The Development and Accuracy Assessment of Wet Bulb Globe Temperature Forecasts

This research assesses the accuracy of wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) forecasts. WBGT is a heat stress index that accounts for impacts of air temperature, humidity, wind, and radiation. It is widely used in occupational, athletic, and military settings for heat stress assessment, yet WBGT forecasting in the United States is a relatively new development. These forecasts can be used by decision-makers to better plan activities. We found that WBGT forecasts by NOAA’s Southeast Regional Climate Center and Carolinas Integrated Sciences and Assessments were within 0.68ºC of observations overall in North Carolina and less biased than forecasts based on methods used by the US National Weather Service, which had larger, colder biases that present potential safety issues in planning.