Atlanta summer heat vs. South Texas summer heat? (Decatur, Avera: school, camping)

[fierce_flawless]

We're in San Antonio, TX. Summer here is from May to October (no exaggeration) and I HATE IT. I've been here all my life and I have never adjusted. Even when I lived on the Texas South Coast with it's ocean breezes, it was still intolerable (thought not quite as bad as SA).

One of the appealing things for us about Atlanta is that it is reported to have four distinct seasons. So, bearing that in mind, how long is your summer? How bad is it?

The humidity is what makes it unbearable here, I think. There are plenty of times when school children cannot play outside due to dangers of heatstroke, and this will continue a couple of months into the school year each year. We figure we can handle any other city with a hot hot summer as long as it's truly "summer length".

So, anyone been in both places? Care to comment? Thanks!

[MiriL]

I haven't lived in SA, but I did live in Houston for a few years, if that helps. I don't think Houston was any hotter than Atlanta, but as you said, the summer just lasts forever there. Definitely a shorter summer here in Atlanta, but the hot days are just as hot. (Actually, if you consider May-October summer there, it may not be much different here. It was pretty hot today, and it stays hot through much of September.) Spring and fall are absolutely lovely here -- this fall was especially nice, with the prettiest colors I've seen in our 7 years here. We also had a couple of small snows this year. Enough for my kids to make a 6 inch snowman.

My main problem here is actually the air quality -- there are oodles of code orange and code red pollution days in the summer, where even if you feel like going out, it's not healthy. My kids are younger than yours (6 and 2) and I just don't feel great about exposing their lungs to so much gunk all the time. That's something to consider.

[fierce_flawless]

Originally Posted by MiriL

I haven't lived in SA, but I did live in Houston for a few years, if that helps. I don't think Houston was any hotter than Atlanta, but as you said, the summer just lasts forever there. Definitely a shorter summer here in Atlanta, but the hot days are just as hot. (Actually, if you consider May-October summer there, it may not be much different here. It was pretty hot today, and it stays hot through much of September.) Spring and fall are absolutely lovely here -- this fall was especially nice, with the prettiest colors I've seen in our 7 years here. We also had a couple of small snows this year. Enough for my kids to make a 6 inch snowman.

My main problem here is actually the air quality -- there are oodles of code orange and code red pollution days in the summer, where even if you feel like going out, it's not healthy. My kids are younger than yours (6 and 2) and I just don't feel great about exposing their lungs to so much gunk all the time. That's something to consider.

Hmmm. I was so hoping to escape the nine month summers! It got hot early here this year and I'm already tired of it. Many more months to go! Almost every Halloween it's too hot for the kids to be free in choosing costumes.

Snow would be AWESOME. My kids have never seen it. I wonder if the poor air quality issues are as bad as allergy issues here? We all suffer from Spring on through Fall (and "fall" here is still hot and without any color)... Cedar and ragweed and high high molds.

Are the air quality issues just near the city... I mean can you escape with a short drive elsewhere? We are fond of road tripping and mild hiking/camping adventures.

[RainyRainyDay]

fierce, I looked up the average highs for both cities on weather.com, and while San Antonio is definitely hotter, I wonder if Atlanta would provide enough of an escape from the heat to satisfy you.

By the standards of the temperate west coast climate I moved from, Atlanta definitely has summer weather May through October. Average Atlanta highs in those months are 80 and 73, respectively, while the San Antonio numbers are 86 and 82. And the talk of snow here really amazes me. I've been here for six years, and it has snowed for a few hours (just hours) some years, and other years not at all. If you want your kids to see snow, Atlanta isn't the place. On the other hand, you can drive to see real snow in the mountains fairly easily from here.

Overall, given your strong desire to escape the heat, I suspect you should consider places a bit more temperate in climate than Atlanta, if you have any such options.

[PeteyNice]

2007 Summer:
Atlanta:
Days 90 or above: 57 (28 in a row July-August) - 100+: 9 Hottest Day: 104 (August 22)
Earliest: June 4 (93 in San Antonio)
Latest: Sept 4 (82 in San Antonio)
Days 95+: 24


San Antonio:
Days 90+: 82 (15 in a row in August). 100+: None. Hottest Day: 98 (Aug 13)
Earliest: June 2 (78 in Atlanta)
Latest: October 18 (77 in Atlanta)
Days 95+: 4


From looking at the numbers from last year, Atlanta has a more intense but more compressed heat schedule than San Antonio.

Neither has a mild climate.

Weather data from The Weather Underground:
History : Weather Underground

[dxiweodwo]

Originally Posted by PeteyNice

2007 Summer:
Atlanta:
Days 90 or above: 57 (28 in a row July-August) - 100+: 9 Hottest Day: 104 (August 22)
Earliest: June 4 (93 in San Antonio)
Latest: Sept 4 (82 in San Antonio)
Days 95+: 24


San Antonio:
Days 90+: 82 (15 in a row in August). 100+: None. Hottest Day: 98 (Aug 13)
Earliest: June 2 (78 in Atlanta)
Latest: October 18 (77 in Atlanta)
Days 95+: 4


From looking at the numbers from last year, Atlanta has a more intense but more compressed heat schedule than San Antonio.

Neither has a mild climate.

Weather data from The Weather Underground:
History : Weather Underground

you also have to remember that last year, TX had a unusually cool summer while North GA had a very hot summer(especially in Late July-Late August)

[benandgrace]

Hey Fierce, what about VA? I've been considering GA and SA, but like you have been discouraged lately with the two choices because of the heat. There's always Cary, NC and various places in VA (I'm not too familar with that state yet). Maybe Williamsburg VA? Could anyone in this forum compare the pros and cons of VA and GA?

[fierce_flawless]

Yeah, last year I kept waiting for it to get really hot, and it never seemed to. I was happy. I am never one to pay attention to the temp but more to the heat indexes, which here are always 100 and something. Due to humidity I guess..?

benandgrace; I'm not sure about VA. I used to visit there as a kid (Williamsburg and the like)... it's very pretty and that's all I know. I don't know a thing about NC either. My interest in Atlanta is the high gay/lesbian population and the fact that it's Southern. I do love the South... why, I don't know. lol.

[atlantamoi]

Went to an outdoor birthday party yesterday as well as walking around downtown Decatur.

Blech!

The older I get the more I hate summer weather. Can't believe I wanted to live in Florida when I was younger. Atlanta might not get quite as many summer days as parts of southern Texas, but it can't be a whole lot different.

[asooner]

Not really any comparison in my opinion when talking about Houston and Atlanta. Atlanta's is much shorter and no where near as humid. The only thing that is even close it the # of people complaining. The only ones in Atlanta that don't are those that have lived in Houston.