‘GMA’s Ginger Zee Responds to Fans Criticizing the Show for This Feature
As heat waves continue to spread across the U.S., Good Morning America‘s Ginger Zee is clarifying one aspect of her recent on-air weather reports.
The meteorologist addressed “heat index haters” in a Tuesday, June 24, Instagram video after viewers expressed their dislike of the ABC morning show displaying both the actual and feels-like temperatures.
“We show heat index because that is what a human feels,” she explained in the clip. “If I were forecasting for inanimate objects or your car or the sidewalk, I would keep it with temperature, definitely. But heat index includes the level of humidity and the level that your body can not evaporate to cool itself. So actually, heat index is the most important number that you need to know. “
Zee went on to note that reporting the heat index is “not new” and that doing so is “important.” She added, “I don’t get it. I don’t get why you hate it, but stop hating it. We will try to show both whenever possible. But also, if we have a short amount of time, knowing what the peak feels like is, that’s what we’re gonna show.”
On top of the Instagram video, Zee wrote, “Heat index started being widely used in the early 1980s. And before heat index it was called TEMPERATURE HEAT INDEX.”
View this post on Instagram
She also showed one fan’s comment asking her to “please post the real temps.” The user wrote, “The ‘feels like’ temperature is like saying, ‘Bake this recipe in the ‘feels like’ 800° and for the time of ‘feels like 2000 minutes’ — when you don’t have air conditioning in the kitchen and the kids are eagerly waiting [for] dessert. I just need the old fashioned, regular temperature reported.”
Zee emphasized her comments in the post’s caption, writing, “Heat index isn’t new. It isn’t ‘made for tv’… it’s made for humans and safety. That’s why we show it. The National Weather Service bases its warnings on it. That is all.”
On Tuesday’s episode of GMA, Zee reported that temperature high records for June could be broken across the country amid the country’s current heat wave. “Philadelphia could go for their first 100 [degrees] in 13 years,” she stated. “You’re walking out the door, the temperature is 87 but it already feels like 93. That’s in the 7 a.m. hour. Wild, right?”
ABC
According to Zee, several states are currently under heat advisory, with some areas facing extreme warnings, such as Washington, D.C. and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
“The National Weather Service doesn’t just put these out for fun,” she told viewers. “What they do is they take the heat, the actual temperature, they add the humidity, and you get the heat index.”
Good Morning America, Weekdays, 7am/6c, ABC
Conversation8 Comments
Please read the TV Insider Community Guidelines.
Comments are closed on this story.
-
K
Hello Ginger.....One of your long time admirers here. I wanted to say thank you for posting the heat index ( to feel like temperature ) or whatever you want to call it. Because in the real world, that's what we all feel. I grew up in Metro Atlanta, and even as far back as I can remember - would be early 70s, people counted on that number being given to us every day. Winter, summer -It didn't matter.
I will use that to know how to dress for the day and used it for many other reasons. There was no internet or any other timely communication we could use for this purpose.
I believe you do a wonderful job every day of the week! And I want to applaud you for standing you're ground over something that shouldn't even be discussed, actually. For those who don't want to know the heat index of the day can just simply ignore that part.
I mean don't people have enough to do than to complain. And to pick a subject like this to complain about? I say, more power to ya, and thank you for giving us common sense information we can use everyday!
Thanks again..... Kenneth
16 1
-
R
Please let her do her job please! Most weather forecasters tell us about the index smh
14 1
-
G
She does her job very well. Do you know her job people? She is awesome and very educated. Stop with the nonsense people!
1 1
-
G
I live in Texas where it’s hot. Always has been. Our weather tell us the air temperature and the heat index temperature. Just like in winter. We have the air temperature and the wind chill temperature. But to only mention the heat index temperature is miss leading.
2 2
-
O
Why does the heat index differ depending on where the information is coming from? It is always different if you look online.
1
-
G
I just find her annoying period!!
4 18
-
K
You need to find something to do other than complain about anyone or anything. Take a look in the mirror and focus on that
6 2
-
G
Change the channel
5
-
Watchlist Easy access to only the shows you care about — all in one simple place
Alerts Only important notifications — when a show is returning, when it becomes available to stream, and more.
Special Offers Exclusive products we release related to your favorite shows and streaming services