Heat Stress: Heat vs Humidity (Phoenix, Scottsdale: apartment, condo, safe area)

[ArizonaBear]

I am a Wash DC native; and the summers there were at least as unpleasant as our summers here in the Phx area-------combined with nasty winters back there.

The '4 season' climate crowd can keep their winters-------20 years was 20 years too many (I fled DC @ age 20 for California then Arizona). I have yet to return to the Wash DC area.......even for a visit.

[NytoPhx]

I went to school about 20 minutes outside of DC, and while their summers can get hot and humid, it is typically not everyday as it is in places such as the southeast.

When it comes to winters, I would hardly say they were nasty. As I recall the average high at the coldest time of the year was about 42 degrees. I can recall an average of 1-2 decent snowstorms a year. Compared to upstate New York or other parts of the midwest, DC's winters were almost tropical in comparison.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

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....

That's the place. It's pretty in the far reaches of the UP because of the upland areas. There is not a lot to do around there, but there are a lot of more tourist oriented places nearby in N. WI. They do get a heat wave or two each year. I remember spending a night in a motel sans ac near Duluth when the high had been a muggy 102 that day. It was pretty awful for us AZ-adapted travelers. Growing up we did not have a/c, but today it seems everyone has at least a room unit even in that mild climate.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

That's the place. It's pretty in the far reaches of the UP because of the upland areas. There is not a lot to do around there, but there are a lot of more tourist oriented places nearby in N. WI. They do get a heat wave or two each year. I remember spending a night in a motel sans ac near Duluth when the high had been a muggy 102 that day. It was pretty awful for us AZ-adapted travelers. Growing up we did not have a/c, but today it seems everyone has at least a room unit even in that mild climate.

Thanks. Yeah, those types of days suck royally, no doubt. I havent been to the UP in quite a while now, I need to make it back up there. I used to go hiking back in the woods near all the waterfalls, some really, really nice trails back in some places. Didnt like the fact that there were bears in the area, but hey!

Back on topic... There are only a few places in the USA that have summers as bad as Phoenix's (ie Miami, Houston, Yuma, Vegas). In my book, the rest arent as bad, especially up north where hot spells are short lived, punctuated by warm days, and sometimes chilly nights.

[borborygmi]

I believe the US skiing hall of fame is in Iron Mountain, which seems a bit counterintuitive to me... but anyhoo, it is beautiful there- The whole U.P. of MI is, and certain parts of the northern L.P. are as well, i.e. the Leelanau peninsula, Cheboygan, etc. Some of the best fishing, camping, boating and golfing I've ever experienced up there. But you couldn't pay me enough to live anywhere in the southeast region of that state- yuck.

[londonbarcelona]

Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim

I disagree. I think 100 degrees in the direct sun feels like 130 degrees. 100 degrees with no humidity in the shade, especially if there's a breeze is no big deal at all. 115 in the direct sun feels like 150 degrees. One of the most accurate ways of determining "how hot is hot" is going into your car with the windows rolled up and no air conditioning or heat. It can be 30 degrees and still feel warm if there's intense bright sunshine.

You are absolutely right. I have always said, it's not the heat that is so harsh, it's the SUN. Even at 95 degrees, if you are walking in the sun on one of our typically cloudless days, the sun is literally burn right through you. The "heat" is not bad, and since the humidity is so low, it's not sticky, but the SUN......... kids do not play outside in the parks or anywhere outside even at 90-95 degrees, because the SUN is much, much too intense.

If you have a super sunny day, and it's 100 degrees, no thank you, I'm not going to be outside. I will take a humid day over a super sunny day just because you can actually BE outside.

It's so hard to explain. The sun vs. the heat. The heat is not bad here, but the sun is a killer.

[londonbarcelona]

Originally Posted by annieu

As an almost native Phoenician, I'd pick their weather any day to the HUMID hot summers we enjoy in north Texas--I'll take dry vs. humid any day.

I know many people who dislike the humidity. In my case, I prefer the humidity. I've got slightly dry skin, and the dry air here is not helping. Also, I do not sweat much, so the humidity to *me* is a g-dsend. But every single person is different and their tolerance levels are different. What works for one person may not necessarily work for another.

[ABQSunseeker]

You know it's all really a matter of perception--it's what you're comfortable with. A typically hot summer day in DC, NYC, or Chicago may be 95 and humid, and a typically hot day in Arizona may be 110 and dry and they're both equally bad, just different. Fortunately, in none of these places does the thermometer stay at these levels for long periods (yes, I know there are occasional exceptions like Phoenix last year).

I understand the Southeast including Florida may stay at high humid levels for weeks at a time. In Phoenix, there are at least more bearable stretches with temps around 100.

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by NytoPhx

I went to school about 20 minutes outside of DC, and while their summers can get hot and humid, it is typically not everyday as it is in places such as the southeast.

When it comes to winters, I would hardly say they were nasty. As I recall the average high at the coldest time of the year was about 42 degrees. I can recall an average of 1-2 decent snowstorms a year. Compared to upstate New York or other parts of the midwest, DC's winters were almost tropical in comparison.

42F for an average daytime high is damn cold to me........55F average in January is borderline as it is (Kingman comes to mind).

As I have commented on in the past; Climate Zone 8 or greater only

[TurcoLoco]

Originally Posted by ArizonaBear

42F for an average daytime high is damn cold to me........55F average in January is borderline as it is (Kingman comes to mind).

As I have commented on in the past; Climate Zone 8 or greater only

42 degrees is too kold???

And you call yourself a 'bear'?

...oh but it is 'ArizonaBear' so that kinda explains.