Can someone describe the climate around Chesapeake Bay? More or less humid than further inland? (Potomac: insurance)

[carlymac17]

We are moving to the area (somewhere within an hour of DC). We've never lived close to water before and the idea is intriguing. We do enjoy boating and canoeing.


Is it more humid than the other side of DC (fairfax co )?
How does it compare to Montgomery County?
Are there regular summer storms you can count on? For instance where we live in the west right now there are frequent afternoon and evening thunderstorms.
What is the environmental effect on houses?
Does it cool off in the summer evenings or does it tend to stay hot and muggy?
Bugs? Is a screen porch necessary to enjoy evenings outside?
Someone told me Chesapeake Bay is not swimmable. Is that true?
And another weird question...how do farm animals do in this climate? We might be interested in horse property.

[North Beach Person]

It's humid, compared to west of DC I don't know.
Horses are very common here.
Some nights are miserably hot and humid. It does not cool off like it does in Western Maryland.
Frequency of storms? Yes and no.
Yes, a screened porch is a good idea.
The Bay is swimmable, whoever told you that doesn't know his head from a hole in the ground. It is not like the ocean as far as waves go most of the time. After July 4th or so you do have jellyfish.

Compared to Montgomery County? In what way?

[carlymac17]

Originally Posted by North Beach Person

It's humid, compared to west of DC I don't know.


Compared to Montgomery County? In what way?

Humidity. Sometimes you hear people say the air is cooler down by the water or the ocean. Sea breezes I guess. But since Chesapeake isn't really coastal I'm wondering if the hot humid air gets trapped there??

[North Beach Person]

Not much different probably. You will have more of a heat island effect in Montgomery, at least in the southern end, due to the urban aspects of the lower part of the County.

I do know that for much of the time in summer it's 5 or more degrees cooler here than Upper Marlboro 20 miles inland. Winter, unless the Bay is frozen over, it's a bit warmer. But I'm almost right on the Bay.

[DaveinMtAiry]

I have many friends on both sides of the bay and I can say I have never noticed it any more humid, if anything it's cooler because of the breeze. The breeze also made the bugs not an issue but then again they were right on the water, not so sure about a block inland or wherever you may end up.


As for swimming the Chesapeake is clean enough but in late summer they have jellyfish that appear. You don't want to go swimming with these fishies that's for sure. But that's not until late summer and it's not every year. At one friend's house near Cambridge we swam all summer, last year we couldn't when we were there at the end of the following summer.

[marlinfshr]

Trying to remember back in another life when I lived in that area. Grew up in PG county and moved to Severna Park after graduation. I don't really remember much difference between the two areas. But we weren't on the water. The bay could still breeze up a bit but I think you have to be right on the water to take advantage of any evening breeze. On that side of the bridge the humidity and increased frequency of storms were noticed down the bay at Pt. lookout but that was a peninsula jutting into the bay/Potomac and I think that area bred some nasty storms!

July and August can be quite hot and muggy anywhere in that area and a screened in porch would be nice. I live on the coast now, about 2 hours from the bay and that is where there is a noticeable difference as we always (usually) have a sea breeze which cools things right off in comparison to the rest of the state which may be still, and hot!

[carlymac17]

How about flooding of the streams or funky smells in the air?

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by carlymac17

How about flooding of the streams or funky smells in the air?

There is flooding occasionally. If you live near a tidal marsh they can get pretty ripe smelling at low tide sometimes. You get used to it.

One thing that thankfully doesn't happen often is a close to shore red tide on the Bay. You want to die it smells so bad. For days.

I would tell you not to buy waterfront. Additional costs for flood insurance, inconvenience from tidal flooding and wind off the water is miserably cold in winter. Those winds will suck the heat right out of your house, I don't care how well insulated it is.

[Digger 68]

Originally Posted by North Beach Person

It's humid, compared to west of DC I don't know.
Horses are very common here.
Some nights are miserably hot and humid. It does not cool off like it does in Western Maryland.
Frequency of storms? Yes and no.
Yes, a screened porch is a good idea.
The Bay is swimmable, whoever told you that doesn't know his head from a hole in the ground. It is not like the ocean as far as waves go most of the time. After July 4th or so you do have jellyfish.

Compared to Montgomery County? In what way?

The bay is swimmable. Yes. Do you like to swim in the Bay? With all those electrified turds floating around?