Austin is humid?? Oh Please!! (Houston, Dallas: living in, dryer, cities)

[eepstein]

I have always been amazed when people say it's humid in the summer in Austin. I guess they just aren't paying attention or from the Sahara Desert. Austin is probably one of the overall dryest cities in the nation east of the rocky mountains. Nearly every season accept summer is BONE/Desert Dry (daytime humidity LESS than 20%). Even in the summer, although temperatures are in the mid to upper 90's, there is almost NEVER a heat index. Of course, it is often muggy in the morning, but during the day the humidity fades away and Austin feels more like El Paso or Phoenix during the day. VERY DRY.

It has always been so amazing to me that Austin and Houston are only about 160 miles apart with no physical/natural barriers, but have such massively different climates.

Houston is VERY humid and tropical and Austin is very similar to an arid desert most of the year (with very little rain as well).

[Dopo]

Thanks for the info,
I'm from St. Louis and I've been in San Antonio for 6 months (winter) and I've been a little worried because people keep on saying that summers are VERY humid.

From what I'm finding out, it seems to be all hyped up.
In St. Louis, once it gets to 83-85F they start telling you the heat index.

[eepstein]

As I former resident of the Kansas City area, I can tell you the summers in Austin are far more pleasant than St.Louis. Although it is normally 95-100 during the hottest part of the summer days down here, the humidity is pretty much non existant (except in the early mornings which can make things sweaty feeling) I can recall several occasions in KC where the heat index rose above 110 degrees and certain occasions!! YUCKO!!

Locations along the Gulf Coast (Houston, Galveston, Corpus) have humidity levels far higher which meet or in some cases exceed that of St.Louis in July and August.

Originally Posted by Dopo

Thanks for the info,
I'm from St. Louis and I've been in San Antonio for 6 months (winter) and I've been a little worried because people keep on saying that summers are VERY humid.

From what I'm finding out, it seems to be all hyped up.
In St. Louis, once it gets to 83-85F they start telling you the heat index.

[Trainwreck20]

Not sure about the 20%, but I agree it is not terribly humid.
Monthly humidities, average morning and afternoon, by month:

Month--Morning--afternoon
Jan.-----78%-----62%
Feb.-----79%-----61%
Mar.-----79%-----58%
Apr.-----82%-----59%
May.-----88%-----63%
Jun.-----89%-----59%
Jul.------87%-----54%
Aug.-----86%-----53%
Sep.-----85%-----58%
Oct.-----83%-----58%
Nov.-----82%-----61%
Dec.-----79%-----62%

[hoffdano]

The big difference between Austin and Houston is the afternoon humidity. Houston stays moist all day. Austin starts humid, but dries nicely in the p.m..

[Trainwreck20]

For comparison, afternoon humidities in El Paso and Phoenix:
El Paso---Phoenix---Austin
34%-----32%-----62%
27%-----27%-----61%
21%-----25%-----58%
17%-----17%-----59%
17%-----14%-----63%
19%-----12%-----59%
29%-----20%-----54%
33%-----24%-----53%
33%-----23%-----58%
30%-----22%-----58%
33%-----27%-----61%
38%-----33%-----62%

[Dopo]

Originally Posted by eepstein

As I former resident of the Kansas City area, I can tell you the summers in Austin are far more pleasant than St.Louis.

I lived a couple of years in KC, so I know exactly what you are talking about,
that's why I was almost shocked (seriously) when people told me that summers here should be worse because the temperatures and humidity are very high.

I just keep on thinking "There's no way in hell is more humid than what I felt in Missouri"
I would only expect higher humidity in a coastal city (Houston, New Orleans, Miami)

[ritterbride]

I live in the hills and it is definitely NOT humid, unless you moved here from the desert. Go to Miami, NYC or even Houston and you'll experience humidity.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by eepstein

I have always been amazed when people say it's humid in the summer in Austin. I guess they just aren't paying attention or from the Sahara Desert. Austin is probably one of the overall dryest cities in the nation east of the rocky mountains. Nearly every season accept summer is BONE/Desert Dry (daytime humidity LESS than 20%). Even in the summer, although temperatures are in the mid to upper 90's, there is almost NEVER a heat index. Of course, it is often muggy in the morning, but during the day the humidity fades away and Austin feels more like El Paso or Phoenix during the day. VERY DRY.

It has always been so amazing to me that Austin and Houston are only about 160 miles apart with no physical/natural barriers, but have such massively different climates.

Houston is VERY humid and tropical and Austin is very similar to an arid desert most of the year (with very little rain as well).

oh, come on, Austin has a lot to offer, but dry climate isn't one of them. Most people think of summer and humidity, you said it, Austin is dry almost year around except summer. As for east of the Rockies, I think much of NM would be considered east of the rockies or almost, it certainly is dryer than Austin..You are right, compared to Houston, Austin is dry, compared to a lot of places it isn't humid, but it is still hot and humid during the summer. I think how comfortable it is depends on where you have lived before. People here think BV is humid, after living in Dallas for 13 years we don't mind it at all.

Nita

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

Not sure about the 20%, but I agree it is not terribly humid.
Monthly humidities, average morning and afternoon, by month:

Month--Morning--afternoon
Jan.-----78%-----62%
Feb.-----79%-----61%
Mar.-----79%-----58%
Apr.-----82%-----59%
May.-----88%-----63%
Jun.-----89%-----59%
Jul.------87%-----54%
Aug.-----86%-----53%
Sep.-----85%-----58%
Oct.-----83%-----58%
Nov.-----82%-----61%
Dec.-----79%-----62%

that is pretty humid!!!