Canadians are credited with gifting the world pacemakers, basketball, and injectable insulin. Among the nation’s lesser-known innovations is the humidity index, or humidex. Introduced in 1965, this Canada-specific calculation is the reason the weather forecast gives different numbers for what the temperature really is versus what it feels like. But it’s also been a point of contention among experts, some of whom say it’s flawed. Should we pay attention to the humidex? We asked Frédéric Fabry, an associate professor jointly appointed to McGill University’s department of atmospheric and oceanic sciences and Bieler School of Environment, to untangle the debate.
What is the humidex and why do we use it?
