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Old 07-21-2011, 06:52 AM
 
Location: Broomfield, CO
1,445 posts, read 3,268,510 times
Reputation: 913

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Dallas and most of it's suburbs have gotten increasingly warmer over the past few decades. Not so much during the days, but mainly at night. Averages lows have increased 2-4 degrees in many areas especially inside the 635 loop. Since DFW continues to expand with massive amounts of concrete, it will only continue to get warmer during the summer evenings.

I grew up in bay area California, and now live in the Austin area. Even on a rare occurance of 95 degrees or hotter during the day, you could ALWAYS open your windows and cool the house down naturally at night. Lows would get into the low 60's on the hottest days, and in the 50's most other times. I idea that my A/C must run all night because the temp never drops below 77 or 78, is nuts.

Even in the "dry" parts of Texas, you still cannot open your windows at night.


Quote:
Originally Posted by catman View Post
I think high humidity makes a lot more difference than high temperature. I'd take Albuquerque at 100 degrees F over DFW at 90, unless it's unusually dry here. The worst part is that the nights don't cool off. Last night it got down to 79 F, the first time it's been below 80 since 6 July.
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Old 07-21-2011, 02:48 PM
 
347 posts, read 468,133 times
Reputation: 401
Misconception about Texas heat: "Houston is so much more hot and humid than anywhere else in the state."

FACT: It is now 3:40 pm on this 21st day of July. Tyler's (zip 75703) current temperature and heat index right now via The Weather Channel's website is currently 100/102. Compare that to somewhere near Hades aka Houston.....say Katy (zip 77450), currently 98/102.

What's going on here? Same heat index for both towns? I don't get it.
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Old 07-21-2011, 03:13 PM
 
Location: Up on the moon laughing down on you
18,495 posts, read 32,959,536 times
Reputation: 7752
Quote:
Originally Posted by TxStorm72 View Post
Misconception about Texas heat: "Houston is so much more hot and humid than anywhere else in the state."

FACT: It is now 3:40 pm on this 21st day of July. Tyler's (zip 75703) current temperature and heat index right now via The Weather Channel's website is currently 100/102. Compare that to somewhere near Hades aka Houston.....say Katy (zip 77450), currently 98/102.

What's going on here? Same heat index for both towns? I don't get it.
I looked up Lubbock. The temp was 100/102
Houston was 97/102.

isn't Lubbock supposed to be soooo much more comfortable

also looked up Austin and Dallas, both were are 101/104

San Antonio was 100/102.

all the feel like temps are about the same today. FACT
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Old 07-21-2011, 03:15 PM
 
Location: Broomfield, CO
1,445 posts, read 3,268,510 times
Reputation: 913
The amount of humidity doesn't just have to do with the gulf inflow. It also has to do with amount of moisture in the soil around the area, elevation, etc. How else would one explain the Minneapolis area dealing with heat indexes at or above 120F earlier this week.? Lots of past rain and lots of evirotranspiration from the crops in that area.

Houston actually has been less humid than normal so far this year because of the lack of rainfall and dry ground. Again, I really don't think that comparing Houstons climate to the Dallas climate really makes much sense. Is it really preferable to be in 100 degrees with a heat index of 100 degrees, than it is to be in 94 degrees with a heat index of 100??


Quote:
Originally Posted by TxStorm72 View Post
Misconception about Texas heat: "Houston is so much more hot and humid than anywhere else in the state."

FACT: It is now 3:40 pm on this 21st day of July. Tyler's (zip 75703) current temperature and heat index right now via The Weather Channel's website is currently 100/102. Compare that to somewhere near Hades aka Houston.....say Katy (zip 77450), currently 98/102.

What's going on here? Same heat index for both towns? I don't get it.
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Old 07-21-2011, 03:21 PM
 
Location: Up on the moon laughing down on you
18,495 posts, read 32,959,536 times
Reputation: 7752
Quote:
Originally Posted by eepstein View Post
Is it really preferable to be in 100 degrees with a heat index of 100 degrees, than it is to be in 94 degrees with a heat index of 100??
yes, feeling like it is 100 degrees in Houston is worse than feeling like 100 degrees elsewhere in Texas cause although it is the same feel, it is worse in Houston just cause. And Houston has this 13 months of the year, while Dallas only gets that high maybe a day or two
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Old 07-21-2011, 06:44 PM
 
Location: Austin, Texas, USA
1,299 posts, read 2,774,770 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by eepstein View Post
Is it really preferable to be in 100 degrees with a heat index of 100 degrees, than it is to be in 94 degrees with a heat index of 100??
God, yes. It's not that complicated. If it's 100/100, that means the dew point is low and comfortable to most humans - probably high 50s or low 60s. If it's 94/100, that means a higher dew point (let's say 70s) and a higher level of human discomfort when it comes to humidity.

Houston currently: feels like 98, 74*F dew point. Dallas currently: feels like 100, dew point of 59*F. A vast percentage of people are going to prefer the lower dew point, especially if the 'feels like' only varies by a few degrees.

We can pretend like the weather is virtually the same in the Texas metros, but the data flat out do not support that claim.

DEW POINT AND THE COMFORT ZONE...HOW IT WORKS. - liveweatherblogs.com (http://www.liveweatherblogs.com/prometweatherblogs/6/2/2748/DEW-POINT-AND-THE-COMFORT-ZONE...HOW-IT-WORKS - broken link).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dew_poi..._human_comfort
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Old 07-21-2011, 06:50 PM
 
Location: Up on the moon laughing down on you
18,495 posts, read 32,959,536 times
Reputation: 7752
Quote:
Originally Posted by wag more bark less View Post
God, yes. It's not that complicated. If it's 100/100, that means the dew point is low and comfortable to most humans - probably high 50s or low 60s. If it's 94/100, that means a higher dew point (let's say 70s) and a higher level of human discomfort when it comes to humidity.

Houston currently: feels like 98, 74*F dew point. Austin currently: feels like 100, dew point of 74. A vast percentage of people are going to prefer the lower dew point.

DEW POINT AND THE COMFORT ZONE...HOW IT WORKS. - liveweatherblogs.com (http://www.liveweatherblogs.com/prometweatherblogs/6/2/2748/DEW-POINT-AND-THE-COMFORT-ZONE...HOW-IT-WORKS - broken link).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dew_poi..._human_comfort
riiight, like 94 is sooooooo far from 100.

I could understand if you are comparing 94 with low humidity and 94 with high humidity then there is a big difference, the former may FEEL like 90 while the latter may feel like 102 which is a big feel like difference. But you are comparing the exact same feel.

The links didn't help your case either, because a feels like temp is a feels like temp no matter what. a 102 would be dangerous anywhere on the chart
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Old 07-21-2011, 07:09 PM
 
Location: Austin, Texas, USA
1,299 posts, read 2,774,770 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HtownLove View Post
riiight, like 94 is sooooooo far from 100.

I could understand if you are comparing 94 with low humidity and 94 with high humidity then there is a big difference, the former may FEEL like 90 while the latter may feel like 102 which is a big feel like difference. But you are comparing the exact same feel.

The links didn't help your case either, because a feels like temp is a feels like temp no matter what. a 102 would be dangerous anywhere on the chart
No...it can still feel like 100, with humidity or without...it's not like high/low humidity is a prerequisite to a temperature. One is 'feels like' 98 with uncomfortable humidity, and one is 'feels like' 100 without humidity. Sure, when give the choice I'd pick neither and I agree that a 102 is dangerous anywhere on the chart. However, saying that the 'feels like' 100 is identical in any two places, not taking into account dew point & humidity, is not correct. If you put a gun to my head I'd prefer the lower dew point even if the temperature feels the same.
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Old 07-21-2011, 07:11 PM
 
347 posts, read 468,133 times
Reputation: 401
LOL @ 100 feels comfortable to most humans. I know many folks who live in northern areas that would disagree with that.

Folks, lets not complicate this: If it feels like 100, it feels like 100! Period! 98/100 isn't much different than 100/100.
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Old 07-21-2011, 07:19 PM
 
Location: Austin, Texas, USA
1,299 posts, read 2,774,770 times
Reputation: 1216
Quote:
Originally Posted by TxStorm72 View Post
LOL @ 100 feels comfortable to most humans. I know many folks who live in northern areas that would disagree with that.

Folks, lets not complicate this: If it feels like 100, it feels like 100! Period! 98/100 isn't much different than 100/100.
Either you misread what I posted or I didn't explain well. I'm referring to the dew points in relation to human comfort. Obviously 100 isn't comfortable to most humans, but dew point, regardless of temperature, has an impact on perceived comfort level.
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