Has this summer been hotter than normal? (Colorado Springs: houses, live in)

[orngkat]

This is only our fourth summer here, but this one seems much hotter than previous ones. Now thinking we will need to budget for AC if this is the new normal. It has been brutal without it so far.

[otowi]

It is not our hottest summer ever here, I believe, but we've set some records and the higher temps seem to be more common than they used to, so it may indeed be becoming the new normal. I would say get that AC.

[TCHP]

Was watching a blurb about this on the local news recently. At the time (a few days ago) they said we have only had 23 days above 90 this year and we normally average 28. However, judging from the dirt around my yard and gardens, I've had a much, much harder time keeping moisture in it than years past. We have always been fairly stingy with our watering, even before we had restrictions, so my perennial greenery is used to it but is still struggling. My vegetables this year have required a brief watering morning and night to avoid wilting. Normally a watering in the evening is adequate.

I've had a/c in my houses here since the mid 90s, except for a brief rebuilding period in my current house from '01-04. IMO, it makes a difference and is much more necessary lately than ever before. It does tend to run up your electric bill some, so expect that.

[otowi]

Originally Posted by TCHP

However, judging from the dirt around my yard and gardens, I've had a much, much harder time keeping moisture in it than years past.

I've noticed that too - even our few rains we've had don't seem to make the lasting difference they used to - the ground is dry again so quickly.

[Wittgenstein's Ghost]

I actually think this summer has been more mild than most. We have had very few, if any, days over 95. Normally it seems there are a couple of those (although we still have time.....98 happened in September a few years ago). I think the difference -- and possibly why it has felt so hot -- is that our hot days have all pretty much been consecutive. June was mild, but when it got hot in July, it has stayed pretty hot.

AC isn't optional to me. We didn't have it our first two years here, but I'll never live in a house without it again. Colorado Springs simply isn't mild enough to me to go without AC. Even my friends who are natives have come around on AC in recent years.

[otowi]

We have had 27 90+ days this summer. People already forgot about that super hot week back in June when we hit 100.

There have only been a handful of days this summer 95+. I can remember some years when we had more of those. But we've had plenty of 90+ days and I'm for those to be done for the season, personally. I'd be happier if summers topped out in the 80s here.

[Willy702]

Last year was the worst summer ever by a lot. This one is not as bad but still above average. Pretty much what people are seeing almost everywhere, summers are warmer and last longer than they used to.

[mtngigi]

I've been miserable - the older I get, the less heat tolerant I am. No a/c - it's too noisy in my tiny cottage. I miss the cool-down evenings used to provide - there's just not as much relief when the sun goes down.

When sitting on my porch, I keep the garden hose at hand and set on "mist".

[bontrager]

I recently moved here from the midwest. I'm shocked to hear people talk about how unbearably hot this summer has been. If you think this is bad, I suggest you take a trip to somewhere with humidity. This summer has been the most beautiful/nice summer I've experienced in decades. It's sunny and beautiful every day! When the humidity is <30%, the real feel temperature is at least 10 degrees less than what the thermometer says. 85-90 degrees in Michigan, Wisconsin, or Illinois is sweaty, gross, and oh yeah did I mention bugs? We have VERY few bugs here. Have seen 1 mosquito all summer in fact. 85-90 degrees here is glorious. Honestly, y'all are spoiled if you think this summer is too hot. We haven't even turned on our AC more than 10 times all summer, there's simply no need (in our car, sure, but not in our house).

[mtngigi]

Originally Posted by bontrager

I recently moved here from the midwest. I'm shocked to hear people talk about how unbearably hot this summer has been. If you think this is bad, I suggest you take a trip to somewhere with humidity. This summer has been the most beautiful/nice summer I've experienced in decades. It's sunny and beautiful every day! When the humidity is <30%, the real feel temperature is at least 10 degrees less than what the thermometer says. 85-90 degrees in Michigan, Wisconsin, or Illinois is sweaty, gross, and oh yeah did I mention bugs? We have VERY few bugs here. Have seen 1 mosquito all summer in fact. 85-90 degrees here is glorious. Honestly, y'all are spoiled if you think this summer is too hot. We haven't even turned on our AC more than 10 times all summer, there's simply no need (in our car, sure, but not in our house).

Many people here are well aware of what high humidity feels like, being misplaced back-easterners. I'm from New England, so I know what unbearably hot, humid summers feel like (I'm miserable when I visit home in the warmer months).

Low humidity is what I loved most about Colorado when I moved here. I'm so used to dry, comfortable heat, that now, even the least little bit of humidity feels like a lot. We do have beautiful weather, but our weather patterns have changed. Air conditioning wasn't something most residents of this region gave a second thought too.