Getting away from the heat with a trip...to Phoenix (Flagstaff: rent, hotel)

[sunluv]

Phoenicians pride themselves on being able to withstand heat. But Darlene Cundlifee says the heat wave in the northeast was too much for her. She's happy to be back home.

"Here you're hot, but it's not that fainty feeling you get with the humidity. It's like getting out of a bath and you're already sweaty," says Cundlifee, who calls the valley home.

And we are definitely much more prepared for triple digits.

Some homes in the north east don't even have air conditioning, so you can imagine what they're going through.

Travelers from East Coast welcoming the dry heat - FOX 10 News - Phoenix, AZ | KSAZ-TV

[adriver]

Originally Posted by sunluv

Phoenicians pride themselves on being able to withstand heat. But Darlene Cundlifee says the heat wave in the northeast was too much for her. She's happy to be back home.

"Here you're hot, but it's not that fainty feeling you get with the humidity. It's like getting out of a bath and you're already sweaty," says Cundlifee, who calls the valley home.

And we are definitely much more prepared for triple digits.

Some homes in the north east don't even have air conditioning, so you can imagine what they're going through.

Travelers from East Coast welcoming the dry heat - FOX 10 News - Phoenix, AZ | KSAZ-TV

yeah I can. Go outside, its like that.

[HX_Guy]

Funny you bring this up...just earlier today I was looking on Weather.com and it was 104 in Phoenix but due to the 6% humidity, it said it "feels like" 97. I then noticed in a NYC it was 95 but due to their 41% humidity, it felt like 99.

[Valley Native]

Doesn't make any difference. Heat is still heat, whether it's dry or humid. Admittedly, dry heat does feel better than moist heat, but that still doesn't make Phoenix any kind of a summer destination. Being out in the blazing sun has serious risks in itself, such as heat stroke. In fact, heat stroke is more common in dry climates like this because you don't sweat as much. Sweating is your body's way of telling you to seek shade or a cooler location. But too many people take it for granted that the lack of humidity feels good, so they stay outside too long, and suffer the consequences later.

Heck, if you want to escape the heat and still come to Arizona, why not do it the right way? Maybe take a flight into Phoenix, rent a car and drive up to Flagstaff, the Grand Canyon, or the White Mountains. Stay in a nice hotel, lodge, or cabin in the mountains of Arizona where there is green, scenic beauty all around. It'll be at least 25 degrees cooler up there, and still drier air than back east. Plus, you don't have to fight the traffic in those locations like you do in Phoenix. During the summer months, the LAST thing I want to do is stay in Phoenix ... in fact, this is the time I travel to either the mountains of AZ, or coastal CA.

[goolsbyjazz]

Valley Native is right, the dry heat is pretty serious and heat stroke can sneak up on you quickly. However, I grew up in humidity and having lived in an arid environment for the past 14 years I prefer the dry heat. Humid air is good for the skin, but the feeling of being wet all the time is no fun. We were in Boston last year and on the morning we were scheduled to fly back to AZ the temp was 74 degrees, but the humidity level must have been around 45-50 percent because we were drenched in sweat!

Northern Arizona is like paradise to us valley dwellers in the summer. In the absence of a beach, the mountains do just fine!

[DR2012]

I feel much better out here than back in the southeast, maybe I don't notice because I'm at work all day, but my husband and I were walking in the parking lot of a store the other day when it was 100's and we were remarking on how different it was. It didn't feel so smothering. It didn't bother us so much. No, I wouldn't want to hike in it or be out long term, but when I used to run errands in Lousiana, it would just kill me. The heat and humidity were hard on me going in and out of stores, but here it's just not that bad for me. I can breathe in it. The sun is hot, but the shade feels better. I dunno, I know it'll get worse but so far it's just not bothering me that much, and I'm not hiding inside as much either.

[Ponderosa]

I know what these travelers are talking about. We used to go to OK and AR in the summer. Coming back to the dry heat was like a breath of fresh air, particularly before monsoon has started up when the mornings are still deliciously pleasant. It is so nice not to be drenched with sweat.

One thing I enjoyed there, though, is how "steam" comes out of the car ac vents.

[Dreads0518]

Try Florida where the humidity averages 80-95%...

[pandaundercover]

I personally, agree! Dry vs humidity is a big deal. In all the times I've been in MA, ME, RI, CT, and TX, their humid heats suck the life out of me. Just stepping out the door caused me to break a sweat and feel dehydrated, not to mention, it seems harder to breathe. But dry heat in AZ............. pshhhhhhh............. I only sweat if I lean against something. I can breathe fine. But I do, however, will get a burn 10x faster just from walking out to check the mail, if I'm not wearing sunblock for that 2 minute walk!

Plus, smaller bugs. My goodness.. being stuck in a car in TX and seeing some giant mutation of a flying beetle stuck in there with you is NOT cool.

[MotleyCrew]

Originally Posted by Dreads0518

Try Florida where the humidity averages 80-95%...

We took the kids to Disneyworld in June one year and Fl was having a heat wave and it was 96 the day we got off the plane. I took one step out of the airport and could not get any oxygen, lol. Had to come back from the parks 3X a day to shower and try to dry off. At least it was a clean sweat.