Discomfort Heat Index Intensity in Richmond, VA 1940–2025

Abstract

This publication determines Discomfort Heat Index Intensity (DCI) to measure cumulative yearly heat stress. It uses a baseline "Comfort Heat Index" (CHI) of 26.6°C (79.9°F), above which cooling is required. The Heat Index (HI) is the temperature equivalent of discomfort caused by air temperature and humidity. DCI is calculated as the positive difference between the Heat Index and CHI multiplied by the cumulative time during which the Heat Index exceeds the comfort threshold, and is expressed in °C•hr. Four annual parameters were analyzed for Richmond, VA during 1940–2025: the average Discomfort Heat Index (DC), Maximum Discomfort Heat Index (maxDC), Discomfort Heat Index duration (DDC), and Discomfort Heat Index Intensity (DCI). The records were divided into two equal periods, Period1 (1940–1982) and Period2 (1983–2025). For each parameter, annual values were fitted by parabolic trendlines. The annual rate of change (velocity) was obtained from year-to-year changes and represented by a linear trendline, while the slope of this trendline was defined as the acceleration. During Period2, DC increased from 4.5°C to 4.7°C (+3%), maxDC increased from 13.9°C to 14.2°C (+2%), DDC increased from 1,003 to 1,185 hours (+18%), and DCI increased from 4,563 to 5,490 °C•hr (+20%). DCI exponential growth rates increased from +0.24%/year in Period1 to +0.44%/year in Period2. The analysis of velocity and acceleration further shows that the rates of change of the different parameters evolved differently over time, revealing changes in the dynamics of heat discomfort.