Compare Desert Heat to the Heat of the Deep South (Phoenix: buy, scorpion)

[TurboD]

I was in Houston from October 07 through June 1, 08, and didn't have the "pins and needles" sensation. For me, humidity is so refreshing. I love it, but can't move due to my wife's respitory condition.

[Monster Daddy]

Another plus of low humidity is how effective using water evaporation for cooling is.

(Got to love how in 120 degrees how chilled you would get when you get out of your pool! )

But seriously, low humidity lets us get away with cheap cooling solutions other places can't even contemplate. I was working my landscape this weekend where it was getting real hot - turned the hose up and just let it spray all over the place. Didn't last long but it was refreshing.

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by Monster Daddy

Another plus of low humidity is how effective using water evaporation for cooling is.

(Got to love how in 120 degrees how chilled you would get when you get out of your pool! )

But seriously, low humidity lets us get away with cheap cooling solutions other places can't even contemplate. I was working my landscape this weekend where it was getting real hot - turned the hose up and just let it spray all over the place. Didn't last long but it was refreshing.

In the Low Desert; swampers are useless when it in 95F+ and the Dew Point is 55F+...........but, in places like Kingman, Yucca Valley (Ca) and Globe they work great. The latter three communities are above 3,000' in elevation.

[LordBalfor]

Originally Posted by ArizonaBear

In the Low Desert; swampers are useless when it in 95F+ and the Dew Point is 55F+...........but, in places like Kingman, Yucca Valley (Ca) and Globe they work great. The latter three communities are above 3,000' in elevation.

Toying with the idea of one of these for our place once we move down there. Sounds like it would work for us (4,200 feet elevation, average June high only 92 or so (91 in July, 85 in August), Average 3 days/year where it gets above 100 (barely). My only concern is in July/Aug when the average humidity is in the mid-50's.

What do you locals think?
Good for all but those 2 months (June humdity is 20, Sept is 40 so I would guess they SHOULDN'T be a problem)?

Ken

[londonbarcelona]

Originally Posted by TurboD

I am wondering if there is anyone out there experiencing the same negative effects of dry humidity. I suffer with skin cracking on my thumbs and fingers, heels, nasal passages drying up and bleeding. Adding insult to injury, when winter arrives my body feels like a zillion "pins and needles", mostly at night upon retiring.
I am a native New Orleanean (20 yrs) and lived in Florida ( East coast) for 30 yrs before venturing to Tucson. Last year I was in Shreveport and Houston and had zero problems.
I wish that I could have the positive experiences with low humidity that I am reading about. Oh well!

Unfortunately, that's how it is for me! I really love living in Scottsdale, (it's by far my favorite suburb to live in!) but I just can't handle the heat anymore. The winters are not warm enough to make up for the super hot summers for *me* so I'm hitting the road. Plus I'm a water person, so I really miss the beaches. Some people can handle the humidity (I can) and some people prefer the dry heat. It all just depends on what your body can handle.

[photobuff42]

Originally Posted by TurboD

I was in Houston from October 07 through June 1, 08, and didn't have the "pins and needles" sensation. For me, humidity is so refreshing. I love it, but can't move due to my wife's respitory condition.

Thank you for giving me hope that I won't have that feeling any more! It was reallly bad last year.

[Subie]

Unfortunately you really do need to be vigilant about moisturizing your skin/skin care. The dry heat will do that to you. However I also have a problem with severe acne in humid places. I'd rather be dry.

[ArizonaBear]

It hits 115F here in Phx today (Saturday) but only 3% humidity; in the shade it still felt cooler than Wash DC in the summer. Couple that with none of that wet snow/slush crap in the 'winters' here........

[dsmiles]

I lived most my life in CA and I now live in TN. Southwest, dry and cost of living high. Southeast humid, don't have to water grass (except for last summer), grow beautiful garden's. Plant life thrives here in TN, but I do miss the Southwest, especially family

[alicenevada]

Yeah with the current tick problem I'll do w/out the plant life.