Since I could also learn where maybe not to go this spring, summer and fall, as well as which destinations might better meet my comfort considerations, I decided yes--and plunked down my money for a copy of "The Times Books World Weather Guide."

"World Weather" deals with the fact that temperature figures alone are not enough. The book starts with a "Comfort Index," a chart on which, after noting air temperature and humidity given in reports on nearly 500 places around the globe, you can size up where to expect "no discomfort," "some discomfort," "distinct stress," "danger of heatstroke" and so on.

Parts of India, of course, are hot the year around, but New Delhi, as readers of "World Weather" can learn, is not one of them. The average daily temperature gets up to 70 degrees in January. It sinks to an average of 44 degrees at night. February figures are 75 and 49, and I can add from experience that the cold comes almost as quickly as the sun sets. I shiver faintly in remembrance, though if you're prepared, this certainly is no big deal.