The heat in Phoenix....Is it really that bad?!?! (Scottsdale: movies, tornadoes)

[EnicAZ]

Almost no one likes the heat in Phoenix, and it does get very bad. Usually by the time August comes around it is rubbing everyone's nerves raw. It is basically the "winter" from May to early October" where everyone tries to stay inside and everyone shuts down.

[PheenixJobless]

Originally Posted by azriverfan.

Jdub

A lot of people who move here come from the upper midwest so they are not used to heat in general and for them, the experience can be overwhelming. I grew up in LA and it was hot there as well although it wasn't as hot as Phoenix. But I grew up playing competitive sports such as soccer and football so I never had trouble tolerating heat because I had to adjust to it as a kid. For others who didn't grow up in warm weather or play competitive sports, it's always going to seem tougher for them. I don't know your background but if its similar to mine, I don't think you will have a problem.

And I know this isn't PC but a person's "body habitus" will affect how well they deal with the heat. The more overweight and obese one is, the more challenging it will be for them to deal with excess heat. Adipose or fat acts like an insulating layer. That isn't to say that thin people can't find heat to be uncomfortable but it's just that overweight or obese people stand a greater chance of being uncomfortable with regard to high temps.

It has a lot to do with personal tolerance. There is a major adjustment which needs to take place and if they can't handle it then a hot weather place like Phoenix probably won't work well. People need to experience a full 6 month summer here to really see if they can stand it.

[Phxguy]

Originally Posted by jakfreedom807

Highest Temperature The highest temperature recorded in Arizona is 128°, Fahrenheit. This record high was recorded on June 29, 1994 at Lake Havasu City. Lowest Temperature The lowest temperature in Arizona, -40°, was recorded on January 7, 1971 at Hawley Lake. Average Temperature Monthly average temperatures range from a high of 105.0 degrees to a low of 38.1 degrees.

Several times during the summer. Arizona will also have the highest and lowest temperatures in the country too.

[mjd2k]

I think an AZ person would have suffer a lot more in our winter cold than we suffer in your summer heat. Heck I've been down there for a week in sept, Aug and june. I had no problems with the heat.

AZ person people would never come to winter in Saskatchewan to escape the heat of AZ.

[Kimballette]

Originally Posted by PheenixJobless

It has a lot to do with personal tolerance. There is a major adjustment which needs to take place and if they can't handle it then a hot weather place like Phoenix probably won't work well. People need to experience a full 6 month summer here to really see if they can stand it.

I agree it's a matter of personal tolerance. However, I'm not sure where you get the idea we have a six month summer.

[hart4july]

Originally Posted by NJ2AZSusan

I have heard they theory that some people gain weight when moving here because it takes more energy (and calories) to keep a body warm in colder temps than it does to keep it cool in warmer temps.

Does anyone know if there is any proven truth to that?

Personally I think it's all the poolside margaritas and chips that cause people to gain weight when they move here.

I have to say I have gained 10 lbs since moving here. I cannot figure it out. I has stairs and basement in my old house, single level here. I average 1 -2 margaritas every other month.

[Captain Bill]

Originally Posted by hart4july

I have to say I have gained 10 lbs since moving here. I cannot figure it out. I has stairs and basement in my old house, single level here. I average 1 -2 margaritas every other month.

You need to drink more margaritas

[CheyDee]

Originally Posted by Kimballette

I agree it's a matter of personal tolerance. However, I'm not sure where you get the idea we have a six month summer.

I also think we have six months of summer here. I agree it's a matter of personal tolerance; that, in addition to what one is accustomed to, will influence one's perception of how many months of it we usually have here.

For someone who considers 80's summer temps, (or - like me - who used to go to the beach when got into the 70's), it's easy to understand.

[EnicAZ]

Originally Posted by hart4july

I have to say I have gained 10 lbs since moving here. I cannot figure it out. I has stairs and basement in my old house, single level here. I average 1 -2 margaritas every other month.

I have gained quite a bit of weight since moving here too. I think it has to do with how much time I have to spend in my car to get anywhere. My social circle has also decreased dramatically, so I find myself sitting on a the computer a lot of the time.

I think the summers here do make people want to stay inside and not be active, so I don't think it's just you and I.

[cacto]

Originally Posted by EnicAZ

I have gained quite a bit of weight since moving here too. I think it has to do with how much time I have to spend in my car to get anywhere. My social circle has also decreased dramatically, so I find myself sitting on a the computer a lot of the time.

I think the summers here do make people want to stay inside and not be active, so I don't think it's just you and I.

You can exercise in summer if you think water. There's two rivers(The Verde and Salt) on the East side that flow all year. There's Lake Pleasant on the West side, Bartlett and Horseshoe to the Northeast, and Saguaro, Canyon,Apache and Roosevelt to the East. Those are just the bodies of water within an hour of downtown. In most places in America a half hour or hour drive to the lake is pretty normal, not to mention all the pools in town.

Biking, whether mountain or street, is fine in morning, sunset, or night. There's wind while you do it. It feels good.

One time I asked a guy from New Hampshire if he stayed inside all winter and he told me he did until he got into Winter sports. Mabye you can't play basketball outside on a July afternoon but there's options.

Night hiking is fun too.