Heat Stress: Heat vs Humidity (Phoenix, Yuma: motel, school, camping)

[NytoPhx]

[quote=TurcoLoco;3767018]85 or 90 + 30 = 115? Nice math! lol. Why be skeptical because someone chooses 10-15 extra degress of heat over 50%-80% extra humidity?


I agree, I have been to Las Vegas on more than one occasion, and I was there during the heat wave of 2005, and felt 110 with about 16% humidity. I agree with you that I would rather deal with 110 than 95 and humid. However, I have seen people here say they would rather have 115 than 80 and humid, and I think that is a bit of stretch. By the way, 115-85 does equal 30.

[NytoPhx]

Originally Posted by TurcoLoco

85 or 90 + 30 = 115? Nice math! lol. Why be skeptical because someone chooses 10-15 extra degress of heat over 50%-80% extra humidity?

Are you serious? Obviously you never lived in TX where all year around (day or night) it was humid (I actually lived in 2 different cities for 3 years).
Summers in Houston would be an average of 90-93 degrees with no less than 80% humidity but averaging right around 90%.
Most non-desert part of Middle East has an average of 85% + humidity unless
you are up in the mountains. Desert-like parts would have a climate very similar to AZ.
What people are quick about is to compare this State's worst months to other States best season, that doesn't make any sense to me. Why don't we compare Winter or Spring seasons of Phoenix to Chicago's or Detroit's Winter or Spring season?
If the Summers in Phoenix were 10-15 degrees cooler, the population would have been at least triple of what it is right now and that to most might be more unbarable than the 10-15 extra degrees of heat!

I actually just looked through wunderground.com's archives for Houston, and took the most unpleasant day last August as a reference. At the peak dew point of the day, a measure of discomfort, the temperature was 93 degrees and 59% humidity. The humidity also hit 68% but then the temperature was 90. With a temperature of 93 and 59% humidity, the heat index was 107 - oppressive, muggy, humid, disgusting - absolutely. But it certainly was not 93 and 90% humidity, which would be a heat index of 136. And when comparing climates to Phoenix, it is unfair to compare the climate of Phoenix to one that is supposedly 93 and 90% humidity.

[Ponderosa]

The heat index (and wind chill factor) is a bunch of hooey. Human beings almost universally find high humidity and high heat to be more unpleasant than dry heat alone - hence the attempt to quantify that with the index. But it's really all about you. At the extremes, the perception and discomfort attending heat and cold are highly personal and arguing over a few points on a generalized, subjective chart is silly. My personal experience from my comings and goings to Oklahoma is that at 90 or so when the heat index there is 107, it feels a lot cooler than 107 here in AZ - until you move and the sweat starts running off. Then it may feel cooler, but it is decidedly more unpleasant.

[twiggy]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

The heat index (and wind chill factor) is a bunch of hooey. Human beings almost universally find high humidity and high heat to be more unpleasant than dry heat alone - hence the attempt to quantify that with the index. But it's really all about you. At the extremes, the perception and discomfort attending heat and cold are highly personal and arguing over a few points on a generalized, subjective chart is silly. My personal experience from my comings and goings to Oklahoma is that at 90 or so when the heat index there is 107, it feels a lot cooler than 107 here in AZ - until you move and the sweat starts running off. Then it may feel cooler, but it is decidedly more unpleasant.

True, True. Dry vs. Humidity is really a personal taste. Some hate this dry weather drying out there lungs and skin, some hate the humidity, making them sweating and dirty feeling. It's really all very individual. I've never really experienced humidity so I wouldn't know to compare. I imagine one would always be a well needed break from the other. For a short time anyway, as Ponderosa stated.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by NytoPhx

Right, I am not arguing that it won't be 90% humidity or 90 degrees. However, not at the same time, and I'm sure Steve-O would attest. Show me a snapshot from weather.com, when the two numbers coexist.

Whats so hard to understand??? I picked Austin's hottest day (next Monday), and it shows to be 88 degrees. Look at the humidity during peak temps.
Austin, Texas (78701) Conditions & Forecast : Weather Underground

Sure at 7 am its at 90%, but during peak temps, humidity levels decrease!

Lets look at Miami who is about to enter a massive heat wave. Lets look at their hottest day, shall we? At 2 pm they'll peak at 94 degrees, with a high 47% humidity. This is probably one of the most humid places in the country, if not THEE most humid. Note early morning temps and peak temp humidity readings....
Hialeah, Florida (33010) Conditions & Forecast : Weather Underground

Next.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

The heat index (and wind chill factor) is a bunch of hooey. Human beings almost universally find high humidity and high heat to be more unpleasant than dry heat alone - hence the attempt to quantify that with the index. But it's really all about you. At the extremes, the perception and discomfort attending heat and cold are highly personal and arguing over a few points on a generalized, subjective chart is silly. My personal experience from my comings and goings to Oklahoma is that at 90 or so when the heat index there is 107, it feels a lot cooler than 107 here in AZ - until you move and the sweat starts running off. Then it may feel cooler, but it is decidedly more unpleasant.

This is a good post. Its all subjective, I agree. But I really find people who think that PHX's summers are more pleasant than MI's are seriously on some hardcore dope. Seriously.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

This is a good post. Its all subjective, I agree. But I really find people who think that PHX's summers are more pleasant than MI's are seriously on some hardcore dope. Seriously.

I have family in Iron Mt, MI that you mentioned earlier. We visit every year. No question, it is near perfect there during the summer - all two weeks of it, LOL. Seriously, I wish I could swing some reverse snowbirding arrangement.

[twiggy]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

I have family in Iron Mt, MI that you mentioned earlier. We visit every year. No question, it is near perfect there during the summer - all two weeks of it, LOL. Seriously, I wish I could swing some reverse snowbirding arrangement.

LOL! That would be awesome!

[NytoPhx]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Whats so hard to understand??? I picked Austin's hottest day (next Monday), and it shows to be 88 degrees. Look at the humidity during peak temps.
Austin, Texas (78701) Conditions & Forecast : Weather Underground

Sure at 7 am its at 90%, but during peak temps, humidity levels decrease!

Lets look at Miami who is about to enter a massive heat wave. Lets look at their hottest day, shall we? At 2 pm they'll peak at 94 degrees, with a high 47% humidity. This is probably one of the most humid places in the country, if not THEE most humid. Note early morning temps and peak temp humidity readings....
Hialeah, Florida (33010) Conditions & Forecast : Weather Underground

Next.

Yes, I am agreeing with you. As temperatures rise, humidity decreases. They rarely rise simultaneously, and certainly not to an extent of 93 degrees and 90% humidity.

However, when it comes to Hialeah, heat and humidity should be the least of people's problems....

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

I have family in Iron Mt, MI that you mentioned earlier. We visit every year. No question, it is near perfect there during the summer - all two weeks of it, LOL. Seriously, I wish I could swing some reverse snowbirding arrangement.

I havent been up there in many, many years, but I have been to other areas in MI in summer and its just absolutely gorgeous, minus the occasional high humidity combined with heat that they get from time to time. I believe Ive been to Iron Mountain, MI. Small town with a ski jump? Is that it? Not to get too off-topic here....