Explain Texas Hot? (weather) (Houston, Dallas: home, live, to move)

[chito]

Ok.. I see a lot being said about Texas and its HOT summers..but mostly I'm wondering if its a New Englander's perspective of hot. I've grown up in Southern California and spent most of my summers as a child with family in El Paso. Southern California is a desert for those of you who don't know and it can average 80's most of the year with summers getting into the 90 to 100's range for most of the summer months..go further inland and forget about it..it's 110 in the shade...so I'm thinking of land in the San Saba area..I'd like to get an accurate interpretation of hot... What are the summer daytime temps in Hill Country like? 90's 100's?...help me get some real perspective on temps, all I see is people talking about ungodly heat in Texas. Which I can see if your coming from Maine how it may be perceived as hell on earth..

[lesliegrace]

Here is a website that lists the average temperatures in San Saba and includes the record highs and lows for each date: http://www.weather.com/weather/wxcli...gy/daily/76877 .

Maybe this will help you figure out the type of weather to expect.

[Synopsis]

It's HOT in the summer, but pleasant in the Fall and Winter. So you have the trade-offs. And in my opinion, it's not just a New Englander's interpretation of hot. However, one does get accustomed to it; it took me over 10 years (much of that just plain attitude). It also matters what kind of physical shape you are in. For someone that is athletic, it may not be much of a bother. If one is overweight or out of shape, the heat takes more of a toll on your body. Personally I can stand the heat, but when the humidity creeps up there is when I can't stand it. Look at "heat index levels" when possible to give you a real indication of how it feels.

All in all, I'm kinda getting to like the Texas heat in the summer somewhat. It's nice not having cold feet (which I hate), like in the winter. And I'm always doing things outside in the summer as opposed to winter where I remain couped up most of time, getting fat...

[KewGee]

Here is another good link:

http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/...query=san+saba

Scroll down on the page and you will see where it says, "History and Almanac" where you can look up years of past temperatures, humidity, dew point, etc.

I lived in Southern California, the San Fernando Valley, for 28 years and although it would get hot sometimes, it didn't last for 6 months, maybe just several days, and cooled off at night. We never needed A/C and I can only remember a few times in all those years where it was a tad uncomfortable while sleeping. Here one would have to shoot one's self as it's too uncomfortable without A/C.

As one poster somewhere on a thread said most people leave Texas to go on vacation during the hottest summer months. Personally, I would have to leave for 5 or 6 months to rid myself of the heat.

I doubt most people leave the state during the summer. I would if I could but that would defeat my purpose of having a home in which I love. I love working outside and that's not an option in the summer. I have to do everything at dusk because the morning hours are the most humid and everything is so wet.

So in a sense, it's no worse than some states being cooped up all winter. Many of us are cooped up all summer. Shade brings no relief with humidity. That's just the way it is.

By the way, I'm not overweight so that's not why I am hot. This is crazy, but some people have already had their A/C on since March. I refuse to do that as the electric bills are way too high as it is. I always try my best to hold out until at least mid-May, but it isn't easy and many days are quite uncomfortable.

I'll never forget when my mom and I traveled to see my sister and her family as she married a Texan and ended up here, hence, so did we. We would step off the plane at Love Field and literally almost fall over because of the humidity. It was and still is awful to me.

[lonestar2007]

I was born and raised here and it's not so much the temperature, it's the humidity that gets you! Granted, when it's a 100 degrees, it's hot, but I can do a lot better at that with a good (even though hot) south wind blowing than when it's 85 degress and with what I call 200 percent humidity! It is stifling and even gets to the point where it's hard to breathe.

When we were kids, we did not have anything but a little tiny black oscalating fan in the summer. It would be so hot the asphalt would bubble up out of the roads (and we ran around barefoot...you sure learned how to move fast!!). I remember when we got a water cooler, we were in hog heaven! I don't think it was as humid back then as it is now, maybe due to the fact we have more lakes, swimming pools?? I just don't know. I do know that the high temperatures and high humidity combined can really do a number on you!! Heat like that makes you think you better start reading the Bible and going to church more often, if you know what I mean!

[KewGee]

Chito,

You have probably already seen the other thread about Texas weather but if not, here's the link:

http://www.city-data.com/forum/texas...s-weather.html

Everyone has their own opinion and some tolerate it better than others. The truth of the matter is~~~~~~~ Texas is very hot and often, very humid. And I'll go to my grave saying this.

[lilypad]

That is why I moved up here in the Panhandle. Is hot but much drier. Never did get used to the horrible humidity. Was in East Texas four long years, and stayed drenched, no need for a shower, ha!

[I LOVE NORTH CAROLINA]

Born and raised in Texas and I HATE it because of the excessive heat and humidity. Some people can tolerate it but I can't. Anything above 70 is too hot for me. It's 85 in Houston and my AC has been running a lot today. Also there are no mountains here.

[kaykay]

This is subjective, but I'm born and raised in Texas and the heat still bothers me. Lived the first part of my life out in Lubbock with no humidity, but it was still very, very hot. Here in Dallas, it is humid and I dislike the humidity even more. Some people seem less bothered by the heat than others. Personally, it still bothers me a LOT! How hot, last summer we had a lot of days over 100 degrees, but even when the temps get 95+, to me it that is just waaay too hot. I always look forward to late Sept. and early October when we begin to get some relief. Having said that, though, as someone else said, there are trade-offs-obviously, the milder winters.

[tashina]

I lived in Southern California most of my life, and 18 months in the desert-y Temecula area. And I'm one of those people that's always said the hotter the better and my favorite month was always July. No more.

Austin is much hotter in the summer. Overpoweringly hot most days. I stay indoors in the air conditioning and it's not so bad that way. Hot all day, hot when you go to bed. Hot for 90 days straight. Still like Austin though.