Climate options; something between dry desert or breathtaking (literally) humidity?

[kamoshika]

Average Afternoon Relative Humidity, June-August
Tri-Cities: 58%
Knoxville: 59%
Chattanooga: 55%
Nashville: 60.3%
Memphis: 59%
Las Vegas: 13%
http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/...ccd/avgrh.html

Normal Daily Maximum Temperature, June-August
Tri-Cities: 83.5
Knoxville: 85.6
Chattanooga: 88.2
Nashville: 87.2
Memphis: 90.6
Las Vegas: 101.3
http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/...ccd/nrmmax.txt

Average Afternoon Heat Index and Dew Point at Normal Maximum Temperature, June-August (this is a measure of "mugginess")
Tri-Cities: 86 (dew point 67)
Knoxville: 90 (dew point 70)
Chattanooga: 93 (dew point 70)
Nashville: 94 (dew point 72)
Memphis: 101 (dew point 75)
Las Vegas: 97 (dew point 41)
Heat Index Calculator

Muggy Weather Scale - Dew Point Temperature in Degrees Fahrenheit
* Less than 50....Not Muggy
* 50 - 59...Slightly muggy
* 60 - 69...Moderately muggy
* 70 - 79...Very muggy
* Greater than 79...Unbearable!
Source: NOAA

[yarddawg]

Originally Posted by jguillot

I was in Tennessee in August of 2007 and did not find the humidity to be very bad. During that month, Tennessee was experiencing very hot temperatures.

And also the drought of the century. The humidity in the summer of 2007 was very low compared to normal.

It really is all compared to what you're used to. There aren't more than half a dozen days a year that I consider uncomfortably muggy. But I grew up in Tennessee in a house with no air conditioning and have spent most of my career working outside as an environmental scientist. To give you an idea of where my "set point" is I've run the air conditioning at my house a grand total of three days so far this summer. Not because I'm trying to save energy, those were just the only days I felt hot. Anyone who moves here from the southwest, high plains, etc. will likely find their first few summers oppressively humid. To anyone coming from the Gulf coast it will probably be a nice change.

[circa81]

I've been to West Palm Beach, Florida in May, and I was fine. I always thought it would be a LOT worse, what with my mom's horror stories...

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by circa81

I've been to West Palm Beach, Florida in May, and I was fine. I always thought it would be a LOT worse, what with my mom's horror stories...

Right now:

Fort Myers, FL Heat Index: 96 degrees (It is expected to get to 104)

Knoxville, TN Heat Index: 83

I hope that gives you a good comparison. The biggest difference between there and here is that it cools down at night. Maybe it doesn't seem cool to natives or people from the southwest, but it is REALLY cool compared to Florida.

[Lamplight]

Originally Posted by jguillot

I was in Tennessee in August of 2007 and did not find the humidity to be very bad. During that month, Tennessee was experiencing very hot temperatures.

Our humidity was especially low that month, but the temperatures were insane. In fact I think that was our hottest August on record here in Murfreesboro. I counted at least 20 days when I would come home from work, check the weather online, and it would be over 100. Several days were over 110 and the humidity was in the 20-30% range. I don't remember the dew point because I didn't understand it back then. That was a truly miserable August, but last year August was amazingly cool (for here). Still, despite the lower humidity, August of 2007 was by far the most miserable weather experience of my life.

Edit: Btw, I just searched a few other cities around the country, and the only higher heat index I came across was Miami, which was 104 (it's currently 101 here).

Double Edit: After seeing hiknapster's post I looked at Fort Myers. The heat index there is 132 right now! How on earth can people stay alive there?! Now I don't feel so bad about our measly 101 degree heat index.