Air temperature is measured in the shade, at 1.5–2 metres above the ground, away from surfaces and wind. It's a standardised reading designed for consistency. Your body experiences something different — a combination of air temperature, wind, sun, humidity and your own heat production.
What the feels-like temperature includes
The feels-like temperature (also called apparent temperature or heat index in hot conditions, wind chill in cold) accounts for:
- Wind chill: wind moves warm air away from your skin faster, increasing heat loss
- Solar radiation: direct sunlight warms exposed skin independent of air temperature
- Humidity: at high temperatures, humidity reduces sweat evaporation; at low temperatures, damp air conducts heat away faster
Most weather apps calculate feels-like using wind and humidity but not solar radiation. This means the feels-like on a sunny, calm day is often underestimated by the app.
The gap in practice
| Actual conditions | Air temp | Feels-like |
|---|---|---|
| Sunny, no wind | 16°C | ~21°C |
| Overcast, 20 km/h wind | 16°C | ~11°C |
| Sunny, 25 km/h wind | 16°C | ~14°C |
| Rain, 15 km/h wind | 16°C | ~10°C |
That's an 11-degree range at the same air temperature. For shorts decisions, the difference is enormous.
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Why KorteBroekAan.nl uses feels-like
Using air temperature alone to decide whether to wear shorts ignores half the relevant information. A feels-like threshold gives a better signal. The site calculates feels-like based on wind speed and adds a solar radiation estimate when conditions allow.
The limits of feels-like
Feels-like is still a model, not a direct measurement. Individual factors — your fitness, cold adaptation, body composition, whether you're moving — affect how you experience temperature. Use feels-like as a starting point, not a final answer.
Learn more
Read next
Shorts in the morning vs the afternoon
The same date, different times of day: morning shorts often fail where afternoon shorts work fine. The temperature gap between 8am and 3pm can be 8–10 degrees.
Can I wear shorts at 12 degrees? Usually too cold
12°C (54°F) is too cold for shorts for most people. In full sun with no wind it can feel like 17°C, and then it's just about doable.
Can I wear shorts at 15 degrees? Only in the sun
15°C (59°F) is the tipping point. In sun with no wind it feels like 20°C and shorts are fine; overcast and windy it feels like 11°C.
Can I wear shorts at 17 degrees? With sun, yes
At 17°C shorts work, but only with sun or little wind. Overcast with a steady breeze it feels like 13°C, and long trousers are the better call.
Why feels-like temperature matters for clothing advice
The thermometer reads 18°C but you still feel cold. How is that possible? We explain what feels-like temperature is, how it is calculated, and why KorteBroekAan.nl uses it.