Denver Humidity (electricity, cities, county)

[jkcoop]

Oh - one more thing to keep in mind. They do get the occasional snow there, but ice storms are more the norm and no one knows how to drive in them. We were there in January - flew in and then were driving one car we had bought for our business back to Colorado and that car was pulling the other car we bought on a trailer. We stayed the night at a family members house in Ft. Worth. I couldn't believe how much worse the traffic has gotten there since we moved away. But to make matters worse, it rained and rained and rained the whole time. They were all complaining how it pretty much was raining the whole winter. A cold front was coming through and we were high tailing it to get out of there before the rain started freezing over otherwise we would have been stuck there for a while because everything shuts down when they get ice.

[BSL63087]

Originally Posted by jkcoop

Well, I guess it depends on what your definition of windy is....I don't recall it being that bad - nothing sticks out in my mind - but that may be because the wind here during the winter takes the cake. It is the one thing I hate here. But when it windy here during the winter, it isn't cold - it's because we are getting downslope winds and that is what warms everything up. It's just that it literally rattles the house. And we're talking 50, 60 and more mile an hour winds.
We get snow here when there is an upslope - weather coming from the east and pushing up against the mountains. I'm in Longmont - which tends to get less snow because we are slightly away from the foothills but not far enough out in the plains - and we are also in a river valley. It seems to go around us quite a bit.
So to answer your question - my perspective might have been skewed since moving here, but I don't remember horrible winds. At least not compared to here.
If weather really is such a huge factor in your decision of where to move I'd really visit Dallas during the summer and again in the winter. April really is one of the nicest months. I think the one week of spring is sandwiched in there between the wet, chilly winter and the hot summer

You seem like you like Denver's weather a lot more, what makes it better than Dallas outside of it not being as hot in the summer? I know what 100 degree weather feels like, the second week of August we had record setting high's of around 101-103 and I played golf on one of those days from about 1pm-4pm the hottest part of the day. Yeah it was pretty bad but a lot easier to deal with than bad cold is to me at least. The difference is it's mid-high 90s here for about 3-4 weeks but there it's more like 3 months. It is upper 80s and low 90s here for 3 months. That will definitly be a change. But so will it being warm in November so it's not all bad.

If I have to put on pants and a hoody, it's too cold. It seems like that will be necessary October-April in Denver which is the way it is here and I want it to be warm or even hot at least the majority of the time. I can deal with it being cold but I will take 90+ over 30 or less.

[jkcoop]

Originally Posted by BSL63087

You seem like you like Denver's weather a lot more, what makes it better than Dallas outside of it not being as hot in the summer? I know what 100 degree weather feels like, the second week of August we had record setting high's of around 101-103 and I played golf on one of those days from about 1pm-4pm the hottest part of the day. Yeah it was pretty bad but a lot easier to deal with than bad cold is to me at least. The difference is it's mid-high 90s here for about 3-4 weeks but there it's more like 3 months. It is upper 80s and low 90s here for 3 months. That will definitly be a change. But so will it being warm in November so it's not all bad.

If I have to put on pants and a hoody, it's too cold. It seems like that will be necessary October-April in Denver which is the way it is here and I want it to be warm or even hot at least the majority of the time. I can deal with it being cold but I will take 90+ over 30 or less.

I do like the weather here more - and if you're more of a hot person, then Dallas will probably suit you. When we lived in Dallas we did own coats - and we wore them. It's just a different kind of cold I guess is the best way to put it. Here, because of the altitude and sun, it just doesn't feel cold, even when it's in the 30's and 40's - at least to me. I really, really missed the seasons as well. I'm probably the opposite of you it sounds like! I can take the cold better then the heat. And here the heat is dry, so it cools off so nicely at night.
For us the move was also about lifestyle change - everything we love to do is here since we are really outdoorsy people. We just didn't have that in Dallas.
It's really one of those things that until you've experienced it, it's hard to tell! Even if you went and visited during the winter you'd only get a small snippet. Guess you just have to go for it and figure that if worse comes to worse and it wasn't what you were hoping for you can always move again

[BSL63087]

Originally Posted by jkcoop

I do like the weather here more - and if you're more of a hot person, then Dallas will probably suit you. When we lived in Dallas we did own coats - and we wore them. It's just a different kind of cold I guess is the best way to put it. Here, because of the altitude and sun, it just doesn't feel cold, even when it's in the 30's and 40's - at least to me. I really, really missed the seasons as well. I'm probably the opposite of you it sounds like! I can take the cold better then the heat. And here the heat is dry, so it cools off so nicely at night.
For us the move was also about lifestyle change - everything we love to do is here since we are really outdoorsy people. We just didn't have that in Dallas.
It's really one of those things that until you've experienced it, it's hard to tell! Even if you went and visited during the winter you'd only get a small snippet. Guess you just have to go for it and figure that if worse comes to worse and it wasn't what you were hoping for you can always move again

I don't quite understand the whole sun and altitude thing. I've had other people also tell me that even 40s doesn't "feel cold" in Denver. I'm not sure if my definition of being cold is different or what but like I said before, if it is necessary to wear a hoody and long pants then it is too cold. Maybe not unbearable but still too cold... So by saying 40s doesn't feel cold, could you wear a t-shirt comfortably? I agree that there is a cold that is somewhat ok if you get out and move around and warm up and then there is a cold where it is unbearable.

I just collected some rather interesting data. I made up a range of 65-85degrees that I would personally consider comfortable with 65 being a little on the cool side and 85 being a little on the hot side but still comfortable. I looked up the high temperatures on the NWS site for every day in the year 2006 for Denver, Dallas, and Louisville (where I live now). For every day with a high temperature in the range of 65-85, I marked it down. After I totaled it up, in 2006, Denver had 125 days with the high in this range. Dallas had 138. And somewhat suprisingly, Louisville led both with 153. The "worst" part of the year in Dallas is summer, as it had 0 days in June in this range, 0 in July, and 1 in August. Denver had 1 in December,1 in January, and 2 in February in this range. Louisville had 3 in December, 2 in January, and 1 in February. Dallas had 9 in December, 21 in January (probably an unusually warm January though), and 10 in February. The way I see it, my comfort range is 65-85 and if it's out of that I would prefer it to be hotter than 85 rather than colder than 65. Some are the other way around. The majority of Denver's days outside of that range are below 65 while the majority of Dallas's days outside of that range are above 85. I guess it's just whichever of the 2 evils you want. Too hot or too cold? I'll take too hot. Just my personal opinion though, but I think based on my personal opinion, Dallas will suit me better. Both places have weather that might not be pleasant but it's which of the non-pleasant can you handle better.

The question I asked myself, which of these 2 scenerios would I take:

Denver:
am I willing to trade a similar winter to here in Louisville, which I don't like, for a half-way pleasant summer in Denver (Denver can and does get extremely hot although it is dry and cools off at night)

or

Dallas:
am I willing to trade a worse summer than here in Louisville (which I don't find to be that bad but Dallas is obviously worse) for a much more pleasant winter with roughly 1/3 of the days being actually in the comfort zone.

I think Dallas is more for me. I'm a t-shirt and shorts kind of guy. I have not looked at a long sleeve shirt or sweatshirt or long pants (outside of when I wore pants to umpire baseball games) since late April and I wouldn't want it any other way. I think Dallas will have a lot more "days warm enough to wear t-shirt and shorts" which is basically what I'm looking for. If it's cold sometimes, maybe off and on for 3-4 months, I can deal with that. But I'm wanting something warmer than guaranteed to be cold December-February and mostly cold November and March with a couple of cold days in April and October.

[gpraceman]

Originally Posted by BSL63087

I don't quite understand the whole sun and altitude thing. I've had other people also tell me that even 40s doesn't "feel cold" in Denver. I'm not sure if my definition of being cold is different or what but like I said before, if it is necessary to wear a hoody and long pants then it is too cold. Maybe not unbearable but still too cold... So by saying 40s doesn't feel cold, could you wear a t-shirt comfortably? I agree that there is a cold that is somewhat ok if you get out and move around and warm up and then there is a cold where it is unbearable.

If that is your definition of too cold, then you will not be happy here. This is a 4 season state (of which, no one should be surprised). We do get snow and cold. It can even get well below freezing on occasion, so it can get really cold.

People can be out in t-shirts and maybe shorts when it is in the 40's, the sun's out and there is no wind. However, go into the shade or have the wind pick up, then it can feel more like what the thermometer reads.

It does sound like Dallas would be a better fit. But remember, there is no "perfect climate". You will face tradeoffs wherever you move. It all boils down to what you are willing to put up with. For me, I cannot stand high heat, especially combined with high humidity. I can deal with cold more easily. so, Dallas would never be a good place for me.

[BSL63087]

Originally Posted by gpraceman

If that is your definition of too cold, then you will not be happy here. This is a 4 season state (of which, no one should be surprised). We do get snow and cold. It can even get well below freezing on occasion, so it can get really cold.

People can be out in t-shirts and maybe shorts when it is in the 40's, the sun's out and there is no wind. However, go into the shade or have the wind pick up, then it can feel more like what the thermometer reads.

It does sound like Dallas would be a better fit. But remember, there is no "perfect climate". You will face tradeoffs wherever you move. It all boils down to what you are willing to put up with. For me, I cannot stand high heat, especially combined with high humidity. I can deal with cold more easily. so, Dallas would never be a good place for me.

Thanks, I completely agree. I feel like Denver would be a much better place for me to vacation to rather than live full time. Even San Diego get's chilly at night I've seen almost everyone in jackets even in June or July when a Padres game is on TV so there truely isn't a perfect climate. No place is 75 every day at every time of the day. I honestly think extreme heat even with some humidity is more tolorable than cold for me personally.

[sberdrow]

Originally Posted by BSL63087

Thanks, I completely agree. I feel like Denver would be a much better place for me to vacation to rather than live full time. Even San Diego get's chilly at night I've seen almost everyone in jackets even in June or July when a Padres game is on TV so there truely isn't a perfect climate. No place is 75 every day at every time of the day. I honestly think extreme heat even with some humidity is more tolorable than cold for me personally.

YOu better vacation there first, I would head here right now. All you will find here (dallas) is pain and suffering. If you have lived in San Diego, which is probably the most mild climate in the WORLD then you are in for some big time reality. It gets so bad here that we can barely breath, feels like liquid air. Go to your bathroom and turn the shower on hot and wait about 15 minutes. turn on the heat lamp full, sit in that for an hour. Close your eyes, imagine flat lands with no mountains in site, and you have Texas. Don't make the same mistake I did.

[BSL63087]

Originally Posted by sberdrow

YOu better vacation there first, I would head here right now. All you will find here (dallas) is pain and suffering. If you have lived in San Diego, which is probably the most mild climate in the WORLD then you are in for some big time reality. It gets so bad here that we can barely breath, feels like liquid air. Go to your bathroom and turn the shower on hot and wait about 15 minutes. turn on the heat lamp full, sit in that for an hour. Close your eyes, imagine flat lands with no mountains in site, and you have Texas. Don't make the same mistake I did.

I am not from San Diego, never even been there. If you are accustomed to San Diego I can understand where Dallas would seem really really bad. I'm not saying it has great weather but weather than I can deal with. It's not all bad but you seem to not like it... To each his own. I hope you can get things in place to move somewhere else where you will be happy.

[Jonna]

Originally Posted by BSL63087

Thanks, I completely agree. I feel like Denver would be a much better place for me to vacation to rather than live full time. Even San Diego get's chilly at night I've seen almost everyone in jackets even in June or July when a Padres game is on TV so there truely isn't a perfect climate. No place is 75 every day at every time of the day. I honestly think extreme heat even with some humidity is more tolorable than cold for me personally.

I think you would be 100% happier in Dallas. Probably the best place for you.

Denver has enough transplants as it is now.

[lpfan921]

I thought humidity is supposed to make it feel warmer?? This is surprising that a dry climate like Denver would feel mild in the winter. Maybe its because of all the sun. I have never been to Denver but I always thought Colorado was really cold... maybe I am wrong about that.