# Why is it hot out when the temp is less than our body heat? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 5, 2002, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-hot-out-when-the-temp-is-less-than-our-body-heat/117511 "2002-07-05T17:56:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![vanishfromsight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ed8c4c/32.png) [@vanishfromsight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanishfromsight)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2002, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-hot-out-when-the-temp-is-less-than-our-body-heat/117511/1 "2002-07-05T17:56:09Z")
So our body temperature is 98.6 degrees. Where I am staying right now, in Southern California, it is considerably less than that, and as you probably know, California has very dry heat. So why does it seem like my skin is practically burning if my body itself is technically hotter than the temperature outside? Especially if there is none or very little humidity? Thanks, -Katy ---
**Author:** ![Anomalocaris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b77776/32.png) [@Anomalocaris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anomalocaris)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2002, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-hot-out-when-the-temp-is-less-than-our-body-heat/117511/2 "2002-07-05T18:02:06Z")
How much are you wearing? Your clothing can easily add 15-20 degrees F to your apparent body temperature. That is why we are so comfortable at ‘room temperature-’ 72-75 degrees F. ---
**Author:** ![DrLiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90ced4/32.png) [@DrLiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrLiver)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2002, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-hot-out-when-the-temp-is-less-than-our-body-heat/117511/3 "2002-07-05T18:05:26Z")
For the first time I think I have the answer: It has something to do with your body needing to disperse it’s energy. when you walk around or just sit down your body is like an engine and it produces heat and the heat must be disperced (through your skin or sweat) however when temperatures rise, even if it’s not over body temperature it’s still harder for your body to disperse that heat so you get inconforatble… this is all from memory, probably badly explained but I still feel like a VVSP! ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2002, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-hot-out-when-the-temp-is-less-than-our-body-heat/117511/4 "2002-07-05T18:05:45Z")
Our bodies produce excess heat that they need to dump. The hotter the air is, the harder it is to dump that heat, so you start to feel hot. ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2002, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-hot-out-when-the-temp-is-less-than-our-body-heat/117511/5 "2002-07-05T18:13:01Z")
Cecil’s answer: [If body temperature is 98.6 F, why do we feel uncomfortable when it’s 90?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_059.html) ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2002, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-hot-out-when-the-temp-is-less-than-our-body-heat/117511/6 "2002-07-05T18:34:50Z")
First and foremost, welcome to the SDMB, **vanishfromsight**. The **General Questions** FAQ requests that all users search the archives before opening a new thread: > [@](#): > > Many threads in GQ never need to have been opened, and the OP could have received a complete answer more quickly by spending a little time in the archives. To search the SDMB archives, go [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/search.php) or click on the “Search” link at the top of any SDMB page. Remember to reset the “search by date” indicator to "any date” before you check the board archives. To search Cecil’s archived columns, go [here](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/). Jesus, how bored am I? ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2002, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-hot-out-when-the-temp-is-less-than-our-body-heat/117511/7 "2002-07-05T22:14:07Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by KneadToKnow \* \*\*First and foremost, welcome to the SDMB, **vanishfromsight**. The **General Questions** FAQ requests that all users search the archives before opening a new thread: To search the SDMB archives, go [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/search.php) or click on the “Search” link at the top of any SDMB page. Remember to reset the “search by date” indicator to "any date” before you check the board archives. \ The problem with repeat threads is, since the great boards crash, you can’t search for terms less than 4 chracters, so seaching for logical related threads about it being “hot out” would be rejected… Knead, we can’t even do searches for PMS threads anymore! \: ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2002, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-hot-out-when-the-temp-is-less-than-our-body-heat/117511/8 "2002-07-09T00:49:22Z")
> [@](#): > > Knead, we can’t even do searches for PMS threads anymore! You think that’s bad … I can’t ego-surf for **KTK** or **K2K** anymore! I have to depend on everybody abbreviating my user name to **Knead**. (Which you very kindly did, thankyewverymuch!) Back on topic, the OP could have searched for “body temp\* cloth\*” and had a fair shot. I’d try it myself, but the hamsters are _really_ tired tonight.