School me on humidity... I don't get it (Denver: buy, live in)

[luvmountains]

A couple of people on here are leading you astray. When it's "colder", it will feel more cold in a dry area than in a humid area. The moisture in the air serves as an insulator. Cold in Denver is a crisp, mountain type coolness. Cold in humid area doesn't feel as bad, but you can almost feel the moisture when you breath in.

Regarding heat, again, a couple of people are way off. "Heat" in a dry area is always better than in a humid area. The dryness, to state the obvious, helps you stay dry. Heat in a humid area can be miserable. In addition to being hot, it is muggy, stuffy, and wet. You sweat a lot more.

My 2 cents.

[south-to-west]

Originally Posted by luvmountains

A couple of people on here are leading you astray. When it's "colder", it will feel more cold in a dry area than in a humid area. The moisture in the air serves as an insulator. Cold in Denver is a crisp, mountain type coolness. Cold in humid area doesn't feel as bad, but you can almost feel the moisture when you breath in.

Regarding heat, again, a couple of people are way off. "Heat" in a dry area is always better than in a humid area. The dryness, to state the obvious, helps you stay dry. Heat in a humid area can be miserable. In addition to being hot, it is muggy, stuffy, and wet. You sweat a lot more.

My 2 cents.

Not exactly. Humidity does serve as an insulator in that it prevents temperatures from fluctuating so broadly, which is why San Francisco doesn't get nearly as cold as Denver, although they are near the same latitude.

However, I guarantee you (from experience), that 50 degrees on a dry sunny day in Denver feels a whole helluva lt better and way more comfortable. than a 50 degree misty day in San Francisco. Here in Atlanta, as well as most of the South, we get a damp coolness at times in the winter which can feel bone-chillingly cold. I mean, the damp coldness goes through your clothes and penetrates your skin. I never felt that whenever I was in Colorado during the winter.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by luvmountains

When it's "colder", it will feel more cold in a dry area than in a humid area.

Does relative humidity affect how cold a person feels? (http://www.vivoscuola.it/US/RSIGPP3202/umidita/copie/RHaffectcold.htm - broken link)

[oberon]

Yeah, sorry luvmountains, you're wrong. Damp clothes make cold air feel colder, much the same way higher humidity does.

It's settled, then. Best 4-season weather in the USA right here in Colorado, folks!

[CosmicWizard]

I grew in the humidity of the eastern US and never even thought about it. During my 20's I lved mostly in the drier climate of the western US & Canada. It wasn't until I came back east and re-experienced the humidity that it really hit me...humidity sucks! Summer temperatures feel hotter and winter temperatures feel colder.

Here in Grand Junction, in late June of this year there was a hot dry spell that lasted for a few weeks. Temps were right around 100 degrees every day with single digit humidity. At one time I was watching the weather channel and I noticed that the temp was 101, humidity was 7%, and the heat index was 94. The sky was the brighest blue color imaginable with puffy white clouds, and there was also a gentle breeze. It really felt quite comfortable and enjoyable. A few weeks later when the so-called monsoon season arrived, the sky clouded over somewhat, raising the humidity and lowering the temperature...BUT the overall comfort level dropped, and it actually felt hotter.

Compare the 100 degree temp with 7% humidity and a heat index of 94 in the dry western climate to the more humid eastern climate with let's say a temp of 94 and a relative humidity of 60% giving a heat index of 111 degrees. When the temp is above 90 in the east, there is usually a high level of humidity too and the heat index is just about always higher than the temperature, whereas in the drier west, the heat index is often lower than the temperature. IMO, the dry western climate wins the comfort comparison...hands down.

blessings...Franco

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by luvmountains

A couple of people on here are leading you astray. When it's "colder", it will feel more cold in a dry area than in a humid area. The moisture in the air serves as an insulator. Cold in Denver is a crisp, mountain type coolness. Cold in humid area doesn't feel as bad, but you can almost feel the moisture when you breath in.

Regarding heat, again, a couple of people are way off. "Heat" in a dry area is always better than in a humid area. The dryness, to state the obvious, helps you stay dry. Heat in a humid area can be miserable. In addition to being hot, it is muggy, stuffy, and wet. You sweat a lot more.

My 2 cents.

When it's wet and cold, you feel colder.

[BlueWillowPlate]

Originally Posted by pittnurse70

When it's wet and cold, you feel colder.

Ditto.
I am supposed to make my message longer, so I will add this:
In general, for me, dry heat is better, and dry cold, to me, was better.
However, since I left Denver I no longer have eczema in the winters, and also I no longer have cracks all over my hands.

[McGowdog]

Maybe the "Lake effect" near Buffalo NY and places like that add to the bone chilling winters.

I think we'd all agree that 94 F with 95 % humidity is worse than 101 F in Grand Junction. But 20F and below with high humidity is like taking your jeans and cotton T out of the spin cycle, putting them on, then going out in that nice brisk "insulated" air.

[Katarina Witt]

Well put.

[BSL63087]

Originally Posted by cil

Ditto.
I am supposed to make my message longer, so I will add this:
In general, for me, dry heat is better, and dry cold, to me, was better.
However, since I left Denver I no longer have eczema in the winters, and also I no longer have cracks all over my hands.

Where did you go to? It seems like my lips are cracking or chapped or whatever the entire winter here (Southern IN). I'm not sure whether it has anything to do with humidity but more to do with just cold in general. I base this off personal experience though, so I could be wrong. I also don't use chap stick, that stuff is nasty, so that could have something to do with it too.