tucson vs. austin heat (Dallas, San Antonio: YMCA, university, living in)

[ldulin76]

I'm looking into relocating to Austin. I like liberal cities-lived in Portland and Tucson. Portland was definately too rainy and kind of somber. Tucson is fine, but tooooo hot in the summer. I lived in Costa Rica for a long time and thought I could deal with heat, but not Tucson heat. In mid-summer you can't even walk down the street during the day because the heat could do you in on the way. Yes, it's a dry heat, but basically you have to be indoors from April-October.
Is anyone out there able to compare the heat factor in these two cities. I know Austin is supposed to be more humid, but can you safely be outside during the day in the summer (unlike Tucson).
I'm an outdoorsy person and can't stand to be stuck inside for 5 months of the year under AC.

[julrey]

The main question I usually ask is "how hot is too hot for you?" assuming average humidity. For me I don't really consider it all that hot until it tops 95 degrees or so, and it's only consistently in that range from maybe mid-July to mid-September in Austin. If anything over 90 degrees is too hot for you, though, Austin may not seem much better than Tucson. I don't remember the exact numbers but there's a book called Cities Rated that lists Austin as having a hair over 100 days of 90+ degree weather a year. Me, I kind of like feeling the sun baking into my skin a little bit so I have no problem with 90 degree weather, although I'm probably with most people in identifying my ideal day as around 70-75. Problem is there are few places (esp. "affordable" places) where it's 70 degrees for more than a few months of the year, so most areas you're either choosing either heat, cold or moderate but frequently cloudy/rainy (ie. Pacific Northwest).

[Badger]

Originally Posted by julrey

The main question I usually ask is "how hot is too hot for you?" assuming average humidity. For me I don't really consider it all that hot until it tops 95 degrees or so, and it's only consistently in that range from maybe mid-July to mid-September in Austin. If anything over 90 degrees is too hot for you, though, Austin may not seem much better than Tucson. I don't remember the exact numbers but there's a book called Cities Rated that lists Austin as having a hair over 100 days of 90+ degree weather a year. Me, I kind of like feeling the sun baking into my skin a little bit so I have no problem with 90 degree weather, although I'm probably with most people in identifying my ideal day as around 70-75. Problem is there are few places (esp. "affordable" places) where it's 70 degrees for more than a few months of the year, so most areas you're either choosing either heat, cold or moderate but frequently cloudy/rainy (ie. Pacific Northwest).

what are the humidity levels like in Austin as compared to Dallas? I have heard that in general Dallas is somewhat dry compared to Austin. (last summer they got above average rain so it was more humid)

Is there a difference in the humitdity levels of Austin and San Antonio?

thanks

[ldulin76]

I guess the kind of heat that I find intolerable is the Tucson, like you're in an oven or have a blow-drier on high pointing at your face heat. Muggy is tolerable if you can still be outside. Can you walk a half mile and not risk death in the middle of summer? Will you just feel hot and sweaty or could it kill you? In Tucson if it's 110, you can't even walk more than a few blocks.

[hts]

I suspect that any personal feedback you might receive here is likely to be somewhat subjective. I've lived south of Tucson (Sierra Vista) and in Phoenix, and currently live in DC. I would suggest you take a look at a site like this:

Monthly Averages for Austin, TX

that provides objective monthly average/record highs and lows for austin and compare to Tucson. That's what we did when comparing Austin's weather to Phoenix.

[love roses]

If you stay out too long without keeping hydrated it could kill you, but I wouldn't say danerous like Arizona where it's dry and you aren't as conscious of the heat. The humidity makes it a little more uncomfortable to be out as opposed to the more comfortable dryness. You can walk half a mile, but make sure you have water.

[S6Sputnik]

Austin is way cooler!

[beeismoi]

you are exaggerating about the heat in Tucson!
its only bad for 2 months... it's tolerable for the rest of summer..
you're a wimp if you stay inside for half the year.
you're obviously not that outdoorsy.

[Franko]

I live in San Antonio now, but lived in Austin and Killeen and El Paso her and there in my life. Summer heat is a reality in Texas as well as in the American Southwest generally. If you live here you have to learn to live with it. One way of coping I have found is to take a swim in the afternoon. A shower is a substitite for this if swimming is not a realistic option for you even if it is not as good. If you are moving to Austin there is Barton Springs. Don't believe the stories about the water being too cold at Barton Springs. Just dive right in headlong (just kidding). Do that only if you really need to wake up real fast because the spring water IS that cold. There is also Deep Eddies as well as the city operated pools. If you are going to university at UT they have some pools that are part of your benifit package of being a student. Then there are private gyms and the YMCA.

Some people arrange to be out of the state into cooler climes in August or September. My job situation does not allow this at this time, but I am now planning my retirement.

Heat is one of the disadvantages of living in TX, but too much cool in Winter is a disadvantage being up north. I visit Colorado Springs a lot and enjoy it there, but I am usually not there in deep winter. Read the blogs about Colorado Springs and the overall feeling is that Austin is generally better.