The humidex (short for humidity index) is an index number used by Canadian meteorologists to describe how hot the weather feels to the average person, by combining the effect of heat and humidity. The term humidex was coined in 1965. The humidex is a nominally dimensionless quantity (though generally recognized by the public as equivalent to the degree Celsius) based on the dew point. Range of humidex: Scale of comfort: * 20 to 29: Little to no discomfort * 30 to 39: Some discomfort * 40 to 45: Great discomfort; avoid exertion * Above 45: Dangerous; heat stroke quite possible