If Phoenix is that hot, why do so many move there? (Scottsdale: elementary school, light rail)

[ElleTea]

Originally Posted by maverick974

Very well said.
I did a lot of research about this place before I moved here from Oregon 5 years ago. It took me several years to sell my house up there so I spent many looooooong hours on this forum and other sites getting a feel for desert life. I visited a few times every year but always in the winter or spring so since I never got the opportunity to experience the hot summers for myself, I was very concerned how I would deal with the heat. Almost scared. The way most on this very forum described the summers, I thought I'd go crazy trying to survive the summers here. Every one of my friends and most of my family called me crazy wanting to move here.
Well, I am now going on my 6th summer here and I have not only lived to tell the tale, I have thrived and loved every minute of living in the desert. Summers ended up being my favorite time of year and as it turns out, most of those people that tried so desperately to tell me how horrible life here in the Phoenix area was, have now visited me and moved here.
It's what you make of it. If you believe that the heat of summer is something that you just have to suffer through to enjoy our wonderful weather the rest of the year, then you will huddle up in the house until October or November. You'll complain that it's 120 degrees for 6 months a year. Go ahead and diss on the summers here. I won't be listening. I'll be in the pool, at the lake or cruising around the state checking things out.
Now if you'll excuse me, the lake is calling my name.

Well said.


I have talked with so many other transplants that say the same thing; that every one warned them about how HORRIBLE the summers are and how everyone suffers and almost dies every year, and they found that's not that bad. Yes it is hot, yes you have to stay hydrated and be smart about it, but it's not that bad.


My mom back in Illinois will never understand. She thinks that 90 degrees here is like 90 in July there. It's not. With a light breeze and low humidity, I sometimes need a light sweater outside if I am wearing a dress. The other night I was sitting out by the pool after dark. It was still 91 degrees and I was chilly. I went inside for a jacket!


I am ready for it to warm up myself!

[KurtAZ]

Seriously...quit telling people it isn't that bad. We have enough people here.

[TheTimidBlueBars]

Health? Enjoy your skin cancer, heat stroke, and the weather and sprawling layout generally making it nigh-impossible to exercise. lol

[BIG CATS]

Originally Posted by TheTimidBlueBars

Health? Enjoy your skin cancer, heat stroke, and the weather and sprawling layout generally making it nigh-impossible to exercise. lol

Its called sunscreen, water, and a brain. And we can exercise here, outdoors, 365 days a year practically. Try that in Chicago, bubba. And if you think Chicago isnt sprawling, too, I'd say you're nuts.

[KurtAZ]

Originally Posted by TheTimidBlueBars

Health? Enjoy your skin cancer, heat stroke, and the weather and sprawling layout generally making it nigh-impossible to exercise. lol

You are absolutely correct. Never, ever move here. Thank you.

[RMESMH]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

BTW, the heat is nothing like the swamps of Houston. It's much more bearable. As for allergies, it's a guess. If you have mold and dust mite allergies they will improve here, but there are enough other things around that you probably won't get real relief. People who are allergic manage to find something to react to just about anywhere they live.

Not everyone has the same reaction to humidity. I live in the Houston metro, and I like the humidity.....and my skin 'loves it'.

I've been to all of the 40 largest cities in the U.S. except Honolulu, and the only one I have any trouble tolerating heat wise in the Summer is Phoenix.

I just did a search for 'U.S. cities ranked by average Summer heat index'.

Phoenix is #1 on the Sperling Heat Index that encompasses the 50 largest U.S. metros:

1. Phoenix-Mesa, AZ
2. Las Vegas-Paradise, NV
3. Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
4. Houston-Sugar Land, TX
5. Austin-Round Rock, TX
6. San Antonio, TX
7. Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, FL
8. New Orleans-Metarie, LA
9. Orlando-Kissimmee, FL
10.Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL

Sizzling Cities ranked – our new Heat Index – Bert Sperling – searching for the Best Places

^^^^^ The link also includes another link to supporting data in a spreadsheet.

Re allergies, as you noted it depends on what triggers a reaction.

I sometimes suffered in the SF Bay Area, but (knock on wood) not in Houston.

I just arrived in Tucson, and I've been in Arizona for three days. The dry air is bothering me (headaches, dry nose, etc).

[mir86]

I love it here! Beats Tucson (for young people). So much to do, inside and outside. The winters are full of outdoor festivals that are cheap/free. Chipotle is doing their cultivate fest this weekend. all you pay for is parking, AND you get a free chipotle meal at the end of it. That's just an example. There is tons of hiking, amazing food (for what phoenix is anyways), and you're not far from a weekend escape from the heat-Prescott/flagstaff. and we have a few lakes around. you'll never be bored here.

Every place you go has its pros/cons. but Phoenix has the best pros/cons IMO. Now, the dating scene...thats a huge con. oh well, lol. I can't have it all I guess.

[Java Jolt]

Originally Posted by RMESMH

Not everyone has the same reaction to humidity. I live in the Houston metro, and I like the humidity.....and my skin 'loves it'.

I've been to all of the 40 largest cities in the U.S. except Honolulu, and the only one I have any trouble tolerating heat wise in the Summer is Phoenix.

I just did a search for 'U.S. cities ranked by average Summer heat index'.

Phoenix is #1 on the Sperling Heat Index that encompasses the 50 largest U.S. metros:

1. Phoenix-Mesa, AZ
2. Las Vegas-Paradise, NV
3. Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
4. Houston-Sugar Land, TX
5. Austin-Round Rock, TX
6. San Antonio, TX
7. Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, FL
8. New Orleans-Metarie, LA
9. Orlando-Kissimmee, FL
10.Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL

Sizzling Cities ranked – our new Heat Index – Bert Sperling – searching for the Best Places

^^^^^ The link also includes another link to supporting data in a spreadsheet.

Re allergies, as you noted it depends on what triggers a reaction.

I sometimes suffered in the SF Bay Area, but (knock on wood) not in Houston.

I just arrived in Tucson, and I've been in Arizona for three days. The dry air is bothering me (headaches, dry nose, etc).

A lot of people moved to the Phoenix area from cold or humid climates to get away from snowstorms, icy roads, sub-freezing temperatures, flash floods, tornadoes, and other kinds of hazardous weather associated with wetter-colder climates.

Most people agree that the summertime is dreadfully hot here but several months of dreadful heat can be easier to deal with than those other conditions.

So it's a tradeoff, nowhere has perfect weather all the time.

[backtochitown]

Originally Posted by Java Jolt

A lot of people moved to the Phoenix area from cold or humid climates to get away from snowstorms, icy roads, sub-freezing temperatures, flash floods, tornadoes, and other kinds of hazardous weather associated with wetter-colder climates.

Most people agree that the summertime is dreadfully hot here but several months of dreadful heat can be easier to deal with than those other conditions.

So it's a tradeoff, nowhere has perfect weather all the time.

I moved back to downtown Chicago after many years in AZ because I was tired of the endless sun, having to drive to get anywhere (sprawl), having to run only when the sun wasn't out, the brown everything, the cheap stucco boxes everywhere, 90+ weather from March until November, 100+ weather from April to October, 110+ weather from June to September, blowing dirt storms and 'monsoon' humidity from July to September (tho rarely substantial rains). I have to admit the first few years were a novelty but it wore. The attraction to AZ is it is relatively affordable for most anyone...until they get their first AC bill of summer after realizing they will have to spend a lot of time indoors. I just like seasons and water/beaches along with the amenities of a world class city.

[locolife]

Originally Posted by backtochitown

I moved back to downtown Chicago after many years in AZ because I was tired of the endless sun, having to drive to get anywhere (sprawl), having to run only when the sun wasn't out, the brown everything, the cheap stucco boxes everywhere, 90+ weather from March until November, 100+ weather from April to October, 110+ weather from June to September, blowing dirt storms and 'monsoon' humidity from July to September (tho rarely substantial rains). I have to admit the first few years were a novelty but it wore. The attraction to AZ is it is relatively affordable for most anyone...until they get their first AC bill of summer after realizing they will have to spend a lot of time indoors. I just like seasons and water/beaches along with the amenities of a world class city.

Such a troll.... here we are on 4/29/16 and not a single day over 100.... having to drive everywhere here??? because you chose to live in the distant suburbs, you're own problem. Everything you complained about relative to AZ was your own problem.