2nd Summer in Phoenix-- How do YOU best deal with the heat? (dermatologist, how much)

[Quizillla]

Originally Posted by Bert_from_back_East

I've never been to Houston, so I can't speak to the summer weather there, but I will have you know that, despite being rainier and more humid, summers in Florida are a lot easier to deal with than summers in Phoenix, hands down.

In all of Florida, there are frequent "breaks," if you will, from the heat and humidity in the form of cloud cover, daily afternoon thunderstorms, days of rain due to passing "systems," large and more abundant shade trades, trade winds and sea breezes, more options for water recreation, etc.

Also, summer is shorter in Florida, too - maybe three months, tops, of intense heat and humidity. Of course, "intense" is relative, but temps over 93 degrees, even in the height of summer, are rare in most of the Florida metro areas.

In Phoenix, there are few, if any, similar "breaks" from the intense, oven-like heat that plagues the Valley from early May to early October.

The summertime sun in Phoenix is incredibly intense and relentless, especially from mid-May to early July, and I'm saying this as a somewhat swarthy person of primarily southern Italian heritage (i.e., darker than most white people in Phoenix).

The sun in Phoenix creates inferno-like conditions, where anything and everything left outside in direct sunlight during the summertime will burn, crack, melt, etc. FWIW, you don't burn your hands on car doors or steering wheels in Florida, and there's a lot less in the way of covered parking there.

Then, once monsoon season begins around early-to-mid July, heat indices are off-the-charts for the rest of the summer due to the combination of extremely high temperatures and relative humidity levels. So much for a dry heat!

After moving to Arizona, I quickly learned that's one thing natives and long-time residents don't really let on - just how long monsoon season and the accompanying high humidity, at least for a desert area, can last (usually about 2-2.5 months). I don't know about you, but early July to mid-September is *MOST* of the summer to me.

I agree, it's awful! I do like Phoenix in general, but the summers are just TOO long and TOO hot, which is a big reason why I am leaving after I obtain my masters degree. ASU has been great, but I am from the Bay Area and I have found that I like cooler weathers/ temps. Some have "seasonal affective disorder" and move here to get more sun... but I find the heat here oppressive AND depressing! You can't enjoy the sunshine because you'll FRY!!

[Quizillla]

Originally Posted by kell490

I can take summer until July 4th then it's humid and lot of the days it's very high humidity. Most of the heat lovers are transplants from the rust belt states like Michigan. I want to move somewhere that it never gets hotter then 80.

Me too!!!!!!

I still have 2 years left here, though... I'm hoping I can take a lot of weekend trips in the summer. I'm an outdoor kind-of-person and the summers here are just depressing. Everyone says "stay-inside" but I hate doing that!!! -.-

[Quizillla]

Originally Posted by amazinmets73

How rough are night rides?

I don't really ride bicycles and I know this comment wasn't directed towards me, but I do see people riding EARLY morning and around 8-7pm at night. Between 8-7pm it's still pretty freaking HOT outside in the summer.

[kell490]

If you are outdoor person I suggest getting out of here in the summer as much as you can at least N-AZ is only a few hours away, but still have to come back here. I have been here 25 years, and last year I dropped about 35 lbs I can say that did help with the heat being over weight made it more difficult to deal with the heat. I love cold weather last week went snowboarding 35F was almost too warm for me in the sun. I do everything at night because I can't take the intense sun you end up like a lizard which stays under a rock until the sun goes down. Last year monsoon wasn't that great 2014 we had a few intense days but my wife says when she was in her teens 1970's that it rained weekly in monsoon season where now it's just humid but never rains. I think we are in for less rain and more heat here in AZ.

[amazinmets73]

Personally I play hockey and being on a cold rink will definitely be a welcome relief during the summer months. I'm also black American, so perhaps the melanin will help dissipate heat.

Grasping at straws here

[Bert_from_back_East]

Originally Posted by Quizillla

I agree, it's awful! I do like Phoenix in general, but the summers are just TOO long and TOO hot, which is a big reason why I am leaving after I obtain my masters degree. ASU has been great, but I am from the Bay Area and I have found that I like cooler weathers/ temps. Some have "seasonal affective disorder" and move here to get more sun... but I find the heat here oppressive AND depressing! You can't enjoy the sunshine because you'll FRY!!

Originally Posted by Quizillla

Me too!!!!!!

I still have 2 years left here, though... I'm hoping I can take a lot of weekend trips in the summer. I'm an outdoor kind-of-person and the summers here are just depressing. Everyone says "stay-inside" but I hate doing that!!! -.-

People who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) in very cold, dark northern climes typically don't do appreciably better in very hot, sunny desert climes such as Phoenix, either. Often, you're trading 5-6 months of being cooped up indoors due to extreme cold, snow, ice, darkness, etc. for an inverse of 5-6 months of being cooped up indoors due to extreme heat, intense sunlight, etc. Not worth it, IMO.

[hikernut]

Originally Posted by amazinmets73

How rough are night rides?

In mid-summer it stays warm well into the evening. Of course, not being hit by direct sunlight helps a lot. But the air temps can be in the high 90s or even 100 until 9 or 10 pm.

I didn't mind it, honestly, but always took a shower after the ride home.

[Heath V]

The heat depresses me, I come alive when it's cold, dark and rainy.

[BIG CATS]

Originally Posted by Heath V

The heat depresses me, I come alive when it's cold, dark and rainy.

Youre probably loving today's crap weather then, huh?

[maverick974]

Originally Posted by Bert_from_back_East

People who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) in very cold, dark northern climes typically don't do appreciably better in very hot, sunny desert climes such as Phoenix, either. Often, you're trading 5-6 months of being cooped up indoors due to extreme cold, snow, ice, darkness, etc. for an inverse of 5-6 months of being cooped up indoors due to extreme heat, intense sunlight, etc. Not worth it, IMO.

I suffered from SAD after living in the Pacific Northwest for 25 years. I moved here 5 years ago and I'm thriving. I am still absolutely thrilled to be here so I'll have to dispute your theory.