Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Well Chicago and the Great Lakes area have moderating effects of the lakes, also the water allows wind to be more plentiful. Once you get about 100 miles South of the lakes or further west, more extreme heat is likely and longer-lasting.
Actually one factor is how long the humidity lasts and how many consecutive days it lasts.
An interesting observation is that when I moved to Atlanta, the summers seem less nasty than in St. Louis. I think elevation does play into this since it does moderate temperatures and wind direction will factor weather moisture from the seas gets kicked up. Actually the worst area I know of is along the fall line in the South, it is too far away from both the Gulf/Atlantic and the Appalachians to be moderated by either. (Think along a line from Montomery to Macon to Columbia)
Pretty much anywhere in the South or even Midwest. The summers around Vinton, IA were just about as bad as Atlanta. The area around Vicksburg, MS probably was the worst for hot and humid. Although the Raleigh NC area is also very humid, not *quite* as hot.
I can't speak for other places, but the humidity in the NE doesn't get very high (NEVER 90% unless it's raining), but the dewpoint on occasion can get around 70, which is considered very uncomfortable.
For instance, right now in Orlando it's 56 with a dewpoint of 21, so obviously it's comfortable. Houston is 58 with a dewpoint of 40. In the summer expect those numbers to be hovering and exceeding 70.
I personally don't find some humidity bad - it's great for your skin.
An interesting observation is that when I moved to Atlanta, the summers seem less nasty than in St. Louis. I think elevation does play into this since it does moderate temperatures and wind direction will factor weather moisture from the seas gets kicked up.
I agree completely! People have thought I must be insane to say that, but it's true. I lived in St. Louis too, and I think their summers are worse than Atlanta's. And so you get it both ways, because the winters are far worse too.
Only because no one has mentioned it: Washington, DC. The summers are brutally humid in August. I've lived in Atlanta and I think the humidity is worse in DC. I imagine this might be because DC is at sea level and Atlanta sits at 1000 feet above sea level. Whatever the reason, DC and the rest of the mid-atlantic is surprisingly humid given their more "northern" latitude.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
