Why does it feel warmer when it's humid?

Question

i.e., how come 80 degrees with 100% humidity feel warmer than 80 degrees without humidity?

Answer 1

Unless you are ill, the body temperature remains the same.Evaporation of persipiration from our body does not actually cool our body.It is only our imagination as we are relieved from the uneasiness that is caused by the perspiration.It is this perspiration that makes us think that humid air is hotter.100 percent humidity at zero degree celcius will not not be warmer.

Answer 2

The human body sheds heat by a combination of evaporation of perspiration, heat conduction to the surrounding air, and thermal radiation. Under conditions of high humidity, the evaporation of sweat from the skin is decreased and the body's efforts to maintain an acceptable body temperature may be significantly impaired. Also, if the atmosphere is as warm as or warmer than the skin during times of high humidity, blood brought to the body surface cannot shed heat by conduction to the air, and a condition called hyperpyrexia results. With so much blood going to the external surface of the body, relatively less goes to the active muscles, the brain, and other internal organs. Physical strength declines and fatigue occurs sooner than it would otherwise. Alertness and mental capacity also may be affected. This resulting condition is called heat stroke or hyperthermia.

Answer 3

Sweat or cooling is less effective at higher humidities (under same wind and clothes/shelter) amking you work harder to keep cool. On cold days humidity is cooling, I think (or is this an urban myth) since there will be more heat lost via conduction.

Answer 4

Heat conducts better in the moist air. Or in the case of higher temperatures your body can't cool because the sweat from your skid can't evaporate. In cold climates you can chill very quickly and make yourself a good candidate for hypothermia.

Answer 5

Evaporation of water from your skin causes cooling. High humidity means less evaporation so you feel warmer.

The flip-side of this is "wind-chill". Wind causes more evaporation and so cools you.

Answer 6

Because the water in the air retains the heat longer and because, I believe, humidity is higher when it is hot, in certain locations.