ORLANDO, Fla. – On any given day during the Florida summer, it’s common to glance at your car’s dashboard and see a number that makes you do a double-take, maybe 105°, 110°, or even higher.
But is it really that hot outside? Not quite.
Car thermistors are notorious for displaying higher-than-actual temperatures, especially during the summer.
That’s because most car temperature sensors are located low on the vehicle, typically behind the front bumper. While this placement helps shield the sensor from engine heat, it also leaves it exposed to something else: radiant heat from pavement and surrounding surfaces.
[BELOW: How to quickly cool your car in Fla. heat]
When your car is parked or driving near asphalt, which can easily reach 130°F or more on a sunny day, the sensor picks up not just the air temperature, but also the heat radiating off the road. This can cause readings to spike well above the true ambient temperature.
In contrast, official temperatures reported by the National Weather Service are taken in shaded, ventilated areas, roughly 4 to 6 feet above the ground, far from the influence of concrete, metal, and car exhaust. So if your car says it’s 104° and your weather app says it’s 96°, the lower number is likely more accurate.
This doesn’t mean your car’s thermistor is broken; it’s just doing its best with its location.
Bottom line: Your car thermistor gives you a ballpark estimate, but it usually runs hot, literally. For a more accurate reading, check with trusted weather sources or apps like our News 6 Weather app that pull from official weather stations.