Summer in Denver versus Midwest (Pueblo: loan, neighborhood, living)

[Nav]

If it helps any, I came from Florida where the humidity is as high as the Midwest. The biggest shock I encountered was that when it was 95 degrees outside in Denver, it felt like the mid to low 80'ds down south. You can feel the heat of the sun, but because it is so dry, you don't really sweat. Also, If you go under a tree, or any type of shade, the temp is literally 15 degrees lower. Since there is low humidity, the heat only occurs in direct sunlight.

Nav

[tfox]

The problem is that while it rarely gets really hot in Denver, there's always a week or two in July when it is uncomfortably hot (remember that 105 degree day we had back in 2005?) Unlike most other places in this country, A/C is far from universal in Denver, so that does lead to a lot of pain and suffering during that week or two.

[HighlandsGal]

I love both. You can go up to the mountains and camp to escape the heat here. You go to the lake back in Michigan. I miss Lake Michigan a lot in the summer though.

[RedSoxFanGoingWest]

I lived in Ohio for a couple of years, the mid-atlantic (baltimore) for 6 and the rest of my 36 years in MA. I'll take Denver summers over all of them. Yes it can get hot but I'll take the low humidity. I was visiting my family last July and it was disgustingly humid. It was 10pm and still very muggy!

I think we turned on our AC for a total of 3 weeks all summer. The 95-100 degree week and then sparingly on other occassions.

[denverian]

Originally Posted by Nav

If it helps any, I came from Florida where the humidity is as high as the Midwest. The biggest shock I encountered was that when it was 95 degrees outside in Denver, it felt like the mid to low 80'ds down south. You can feel the heat of the sun, but because it is so dry, you don't really sweat. Also, If you go under a tree, or any type of shade, the temp is literally 15 degrees lower. Since there is low humidity, the heat only occurs in direct sunlight.

Nav

Very true, but for those of us living in Stapleton (or any newer community) where there are no big trees, stepping outside in summer can feel like stepping into an oven!

[jjacobeclark]

I choose summer in the Midwest. Denver is pretty for the month of May and the first half of June, because it is very rainy and green, at least by CO standards. However, after that point you can count on highs consistently reaching into the 90's and virtually no precipitation. From late July to September the landscape starts turning a hideous brown color, like all the life has been sucked right out of it.

WI may be humid, but at least my state is lush and green during the summer.

Originally Posted by katmoney

Denver in a heartbeat. No humidity, frequent sun..

I grew up in Chicago. I do not miss those hot humid summers one bit.

Are you sure you're from Chicago and not some far western suburb? Lake Michigan cools things off a good 15 degrees within 2-3 miles of the shore.

[steveindenver]

I choose summer in the Midwest. Denver is pretty for the month of May and the first half of June, because it is very rainy and green, at least by CO standards. However, after that point you can count on highs consistently reaching into the 90's and virtually no precipitation.

FAIL.

http://www.go-colorado.com/Denver/Weather/

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by steveindenver

FAIL.

Denver, Colorado Weather Forecast / Climate / Average Temperatures

Those are averages. That site shows the average July high as 88. So for every day its 76, there's one that's 100.

[jjacobeclark]

Originally Posted by steveindenver

FAIL.

Denver, Colorado Weather Forecast / Climate / Average Temperatures

Boy steve, I thought you were a little more intelligent than this. Do you not grasp the concept of averages? Denver has an "average" high temperature of 88 in July. This means there are just as many days ABOVE this temperature as there is below it.

Besides, this thread is asking for opinions of people who have lived in both areas. I'm entitled to have my own opinion since I actually fit the criteria put in place by the OP. Where exactly in the Midwest did you live again?

[jkcoop]

I don't think I realized how bad humidity was until I moved away from it. I grew up in Nebraska (we had no a.c.) then later lived in east Texas.

To go back now I find it so hard to deal with. Oppressive. I visited my brother last summer in Wisconsin. I'm the only one who lives in a dry climate - my other siblings who were there also are from Texas and Mississippi. I know they got sick of hearing me complain about the humidity! Makes me completely sluggish.

So I'll take Denver any day over the Midwest.