Maybe this is why less people are listening to Rush Limbaugh than they used to: on his radio program yesterday Rush Limbaugh stated that the Federal Government is "manufacturing" (his word) the heat index data to make it appear that a heat wave exists when in his words everything is just fine. It's just like it always is. Take a listen:
Rush, I just walked outside. It's hotter than hell. The heat index doesn't lie. It's not a "conspiracy" by government scientists. It's the rough equivalent of the wind chill factor. From The Weather Channel's website, Weather.com (No government scientists there Rush):
The Heat Index is the temperature the body feels when heat and humidity are combined. The chart below shows the Heat Index that corresponds to the actual air temperature and relative humidity. This chart is based upon shady, light wind conditions. Exposure to direct sunlight can increase the Heat Index by up to 15°F.
Or as the old saying goes, "it's not just the heat, it's the humidity." Right now humidity levels are extremely high across the nation and combining them with high temperatures makes the heat very dangerous, even deadly. From Accuweather (not as good a source as NOAA or the NWS, but it is a private company, so I'm sure Rush can hardly fault the government for their conclusions):
The peak of the heat wave will be Friday for the major cities of the Northeast. Highs will soar well into the 90s in Boston and New York City. In Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., highs will top the 100-degree mark.
Highs will challenge long-standing records. On Friday, Philadelphia will have a shot at breaking the 54-year old record of 100°, which was set in 1957.
With humidity factored in over a large swath of real estate across the mid-Atlantic, AccuWeather.com RealFeel® temperatures will climb to 110-118 degrees during the hottest hours of the afternoon. [...]
A dew point temperature of 70° is often given as the threshold of very uncomfortable. On Friday, dew point temperatures will rise to 75 degrees and higher from Washington, D.C., through Boston.
Many states of the U.S. have been suffering the grips of this dangerous heat wave for days with the core of heat over the Plains. Meteorologist Heather Buchman wrote early Wednesday that at least 17-states hit 100° on Tuesday! Some cities such as Minneapolis have set new all-time record high dew points.
"When all is said and done, with the number of days of extreme heat and humidity of the current heat wave, it may be more significant and impact a larger area than the deadly 1995 heat wave of July 12-15," according to Expert Senior Meteorologist Jim Andrews.
Rush, people only need to go outside (or if they have no air conditioning swelter inside) to know you're a Big Fat Liar (copyright Senator Al Franken). Like almost everything else that comes out of your mouth (I exclude belches), your claim that the government is manufacturing a "heat wave" is a lie.