Is dry heat really better then humid heat? (climate, hottest, temperatures)

[DavieJ89]

People always say dry heat (ex summertime in Las Vegas) is more comfortable and easier to deal with then the humid heat of Orlando, FL.

Is dry heat really better? Or is heat heat no matter what?

[nei]

From my experience, dryheat is a bit overrated.

At the same temperature, dry heat is more comfy than humid heat. But if it is hot enough, it can be equally unpleasant just in different ways.

Very hot desert heat is actual heat; surface feel hot too touch, the air feels hotter than you and kinda oven like. I remember being outside in 110-115F degree heat in Arizona and it felt kinda scary.To me, humid heat (at lower temperatures) is more irritating if you're moving around, but doesn't feel as dangerous and it's more just sticky and a bit annoying. Also, dry heat tends to suck water out of you and you can very quickly get dehydrated without realizing. I remember going through a liter of water in half a day without moving around much in 90-95 degree dry heat.

But if it's only moderately hot (low 90s or less) dry heat feels a lot more comfortable than humid heat (just be careful to drink lots of water). But I'd take Florida heat over a desert heat. Though it's kinda like the choice between an oven and a steam bath...

[Lamplight]

The lowest summer time humidity I can recall experiencing was in August 2007, when we stayed in the 100s for something like 14-20 days. The hottest was about 111-112, and the humidity was quite low. It was still plenty miserable! However, at lower but still hot temperatures I can tolerate low humidity heat MUCH better than high, even if the temperatures are higher. 75 degrees and 80+% humidity in the morning feels much worse to me than 85 degrees and 35-40% in the afternoon.

[RichardW]

Humid heat's better, if you can cope with it HOT and humid you know you're a real man.

[RWood]

Dry heat better for me, no contest.

[ChesterNZ]

Personally, I prefer humidity. The moment you step off the plane into the humid heat of a tropical climate is something you'll never forget. As you walk around outside you feel like you're swimming through hot water. The best thing is the way humid air carries the aroma of sugar cane fields and coffee plantations, etc.

Dry heat can cause skin problems in some people. However, humidity can be annoying if you're trying to dry washing and isn't so good for asthmatics.

[Lamplight]

Originally Posted by ChesterNZ

Personally, I prefer humidity. The moment you step off the plane into the humid heat of a tropical climate is something you'll never forget. As you walk around outside you feel like you're swimming through hot water.

Yeah, that "swimming in hot water" feeling is what I hate so much about summer! If it's humid enough, I actually start feeling sick.

[nei]

humid air makes me think of beach

[ColdCanadian]

"swimming in hot water"?

How about "... like taking a bath with your clothes on..."

They both have advantages and disadvantages:

-Humidity can increase the smell-intensity of fragrant flowers. (and other smells )
-Dry heat can lets me experience "full body heat" without any stickiness. (say 95 F with 20% humidity)

[Nomadicus]

I've lived in both. Humid is better for me and my eyes.