Tennessee Summers (Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga: home, living in, bill)

[danielj72]

Originally Posted by CountryFisher

Ah, so it's not just Florida that has oppressive humidity.

It just lasts longer in Florida, but we get quite a bit of it.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by Bluemerle

While visiting in July, one year, I couldn't help but notice that it gets INCREDIBLY hot and humid (I know, DUH). Coming from Cali where it's the whole "dry heat" thing, it was not something I was used to.

Can someone from Tennessee describe a typical summer such as, is it always humid? Are there days when it is less so than others? If you moved to Tennessee from another state (such as Cali) can you please tell me how long it took you to acclimate to the heat and humidity?

I guess I should mention that it was Middle Tennessee that I was visiting (Williamson County)

Thanks everyone

Elevation is your friend. Study the terrain maps of TN and pick the area with the highest elevation if you want Summer temperatures to be less hot. I would recommend the Tri Cities region or the Cumberland Plateau. Summer temperatures there are generally in the middle 80s for highs with a good scattering of thunderstorms around due to uneven surface heating with elevation. I remember one Summer I was driving around a rural area near Crossville in July and the temperatures in the afternoon were only in the 70s and it wasn't raining.

[danielj72]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

Elevation is your friend. Study the terrain maps of TN and pick the area with the highest elevation if you want Summer temperatures to be less hot. I would recommend the Tri Cities region or the Cumberland Plateau. Summer temperatures there are generally in the middle 80s for highs with a good scattering of thunderstorms around due to uneven surface heating with elevation. I remember one Summer I was driving around a rural area near Crossville in July and the temperatures in the afternoon were only in the 70s and it wasn't raining.

High elevations in the Smokies can be 20 degrees cooler. Newfound Gap and Clingmans dome often are much much cooler, great place to spend the day when its 98 degrees in the valley.

[nashvols]

Originally Posted by Memphis1979

Its not the temperature so much as its the 100% humidity, making the heat index around 120

Just a clarification...the humidity is never close to 100% with high temperatures. 120 degree heat index has happened, but is extremely rare.

Really, "high" humidity is about 60-70% overnight and early in the morning, and 40-50% during the day.

95 degrees with 45% humidity means a heat index of around 102...which would be more in line with the true "hot" weather here.

What we got a few years ago was about 100 degrees with 55% humidity (which is utterly oppressive), which works out to a heat index of 118.

Mid summer typically means highs in the mid 80s-mid 90s and heat indexes in the high 90s or low 100s. Of course there are extremes, and we can have a couple of weeks of miserably hot weather...but usually it's not long lasting like it can be in parts of Texas and the plains. Thunderstorms typically provide some breaks in the heat.


The worst thing about humidity is that at times it can make it uncomfortable to do anything outside. Dry heat can make you sweat, but humidity makes everything sticky, and at times, the air seems thick and it's hard to do any sort of rigorous activity because it's easy to lose your breath. Some days, simply walking to the mailbox will be enough to make you want to change shirts.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by danielj72

High elevations in the Smokies can be 20 degrees cooler. Newfound Gap and Clingmans dome often are much much cooler, great place to spend the day when its 98 degrees in the valley.

That is true, but that is the Smoky Mountain National Park and Forest so no one actually lives at elevations that high. Mountain City is higher than 2,000ft elevation, but it tends to be more isolated. Sevierville down in the valley is between 1,000-1,500ft elevation. You'll actually see a much greater variety of homes above 3,000ft in western North Carolina. Beech Mountain in NC is at around 5,000ft encompassed by the National Forest with scattered development around the ski area.

[TN Girl22]

I know Fla has bad Humidity. How is the Tn humidity compared to Florida's?

[txtqueen]

Don't plan on wearing clothes during the summer in Tennessee. Everything sticks to you.
I just moved back after being away for 12 years, I'm almost 24.

Not for the move but in general I have a million pairs of short shorts and tank tops.
They'll come in handy for this summer.
I don't even touch pants or tshirts in the summer.

Works for me but my great grandmother will probably murder me and then burn my clothes.....
I can't stand the feeling of my clothes stick to me, makes me fidget and want to rip them off.

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by TN Girl22

I know Fla has bad Humidity. How is the Tn humidity compared to Florida's?

I lived in Florida for about ten years, originally from New England. The thing is the temperature and humidity will often be the same in Florida and Tenn but that is where the similarities end. It's the dew point and in Florida - well, in Southwest and South Florida, anyway - it is far more sticky and miserable than Tenn. I love it here. If you are from the hotter areas of Florida than Tenn. - especially East Tenn., including Chattanooga - will be a snap. I've been up here going on eight years and the heat still doesn't bother me.

[TN Girl22]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

I lived in Florida for about ten years, originally from New England. The thing is the temperature and humidity will often be the same in Florida and Tenn but that is where the similarities end. It's the dew point and in Florida - well, in Southwest and South Florida, anyway - it is far more sticky and miserable than Tenn. I love it here. If you are from the hotter areas of Florida than Tenn. - especially East Tenn., including Chattanooga - will be a snap. I've been up here going on eight years and the heat still doesn't bother me.

I was born in Tn when I was a newborn so I'm been down here in Fla for 20+ years. So this Tennessean moving back home. thanks.

[TENNYOOPER]

Originally Posted by CountryFisher

Ah, so it's not just Florida that has oppressive humidity.

I know many people here in Tennessee who take vacations to Florida in the summer time and claim that it is actually cooler there, or a different, less oppressive heat.