Today's Weather Report — What Are You Actually Reading?
Every morning, millions of people check today's weather report before deciding what to wear, whether to travel, or whether to plan something outdoors. The report is a small set of numbers, but each number answers a different question. Once you know what each one means, a weather report stops being a wall of figures and becomes a clear plan for your day.
This guide explains every part of a daily weather report in plain words, using the same numbers you see on Weather Tomorrow. Open your city's page — Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad or any other city — and follow along.
Temperature and Feels-Like Temperature
The first number in any weather report is the temperature, measured in degrees Celsius. It tells you how hot or cold the air is. But the number that matters for your comfort is often the "feels-like" temperature.
Feels-like temperature adjusts the real temperature for wind and humidity. In summer, high humidity stops your sweat from evaporating, so your body cannot cool down, and 35 degrees can feel like 42. In winter, wind strips heat from your skin, so 10 degrees with a strong wind can feel like 5. When you choose clothes for the day, dress for the feels-like temperature, not the thermometer reading.
Humidity
Humidity is the amount of water vapour in the air, shown as a percentage. A humidity of 90% means the air is almost full of moisture; a humidity of 20% means the air is very dry.
High humidity makes hot weather feel much worse, makes you sweat without cooling down, and makes laundry dry slowly. It is also the reason winter mornings in Lahore feel damp and cold even when the temperature is not very low. Low humidity is common on dry, sunny days: the air feels pleasant, but your skin and throat can dry out, so drink more water.
Wind Speed and Wind Direction
Wind is shown as a speed in kilometres per hour and a direction, like "NE" for north-east. The direction tells you where the wind is coming from, not where it is going: a north-east wind blows from the north-east toward the south-west.
Wind below 10 km/h feels calm. A breeze of 10 to 30 km/h is normal and pleasant. Wind above 40 km/h starts to make outdoor work difficult, and above 60 km/h it can damage trees, signs and loose roofs. Wind also changes how the temperature feels, which is why the same 20 degrees can feel mild on a calm day and cold on a windy one.
Rain in Millimetres
A good weather report shows rain in millimetres, not just a percentage chance. Millimetres tell you how much rain is expected: 0 mm means a dry day, 1 mm is a light shower, 5 mm is steady rain, and 20 mm or more in a day is heavy rain that can flood low roads.
Weather Tomorrow shows rain in millimetres on every city page and on the hourly forecast page, where you can see rain hour by hour. That is far more useful than a percentage, because a 50% chance of rain could mean a drizzle or a downpour, while 3 mm tells you exactly what to expect.
UV Index
The UV index measures how strong the sun's ultraviolet rays are. A low UV index means the sun is weak and you are safe outside. A high UV index means the sun can burn your skin quickly, even on a cloudy day. In Pakistan the UV index is often high around midday, especially in summer.
As a simple rule, when the UV index is high, wear a hat, stay in the shade around noon, and use sunscreen if you will be outside for a long time. Children burn faster than adults, so they need extra protection.
Pressure and Visibility
Air pressure is the weight of the air above you. When pressure is falling, the weather is usually getting worse and rain may be on the way. When pressure is rising, the weather is usually improving and the sky is clearing. You do not need to watch the number every day, but a fast fall in pressure is a useful warning that a storm is coming.
Visibility tells you how far you can see through the air. On a clear day it is many kilometres. In fog or smog it can fall below one kilometre, which is dangerous for driving. If the visibility is low, slow down on the road and use your lights.
How to Use the Hourly and 10-Day Forecast
Today's weather report is only the start. The hourly forecast shows temperature and rain hour by hour, so you can pick the best time to go out. The 10-day forecast shows the pattern for the coming days, so you can plan the week. Use the daily report to decide what to do today, the hourly forecast to decide when to do it, and the 10-day forecast to decide what to plan next.
The Bottom Line
A weather report is not just a temperature. It is temperature and feels-like, humidity, wind, rain in millimetres, UV and pressure together. Read all of them, and the report tells you what to wear, when to go out, and whether to carry an umbrella. Check today's weather report for your city every morning, and the sky will rarely surprise you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a weather report?
A weather report is a summary of the weather for a place and time: temperature, feels-like temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, rain, and UV index. It tells you what the sky is doing now and what it will do next.
What is the difference between temperature and feels-like temperature?
Temperature is what a thermometer measures. Feels-like temperature is how hot or cold it feels to your body, after wind and humidity are counted. On a humid day 35 degrees can feel like 42, and on a windy winter day 10 degrees can feel like 5.
What does humidity mean in a weather report?
Humidity is how much water vapour is in the air. High humidity makes hot days feel hotter and sticky, and makes clothes dry slowly. Low humidity makes the air feel dry and can dry your skin and throat.
What is a good wind speed?
Wind below 10 km/h feels calm. Wind of 10 to 30 km/h is a normal breeze. Above 40 km/h it becomes strong and can make outdoor work difficult, and above 60 km/h it is dangerous for trees, signs and loose roofs.
Where can I get today's weather report for my city?
Search your city on Weather Tomorrow. The city page shows today's weather report with temperature, humidity, wind, rain and UV, plus the hourly forecast and the 10-day forecast.
About the author
Written by Ahsan Ali, Founder of Weather Tomorrow. He builds Weather Tomorrow from Multan, Pakistan, using live data from MET Norway — free, fast and honest weather for every city in the world.