Inescapable Dry Air (climate, warm, temperatures, 2013)
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The contiguous United States is obviously one of the most varied countries climate-wise. Hot, cold, wet, dry, sunny, gloomy, whatever you want. But no matter what - it is IMPOSSIBLE to avoid relative humidity less than 30%. Not in Miami, not in New Orleans, not in Houston. I'm all for some variety but very low humidity makes me feel short of breath and is uncomfortable for skin & eyes. People talk about the deep south as humid year round, but looking at real data I'm shocked that it can get even drier than where I live now! It seems that's the price to pay for being warm outside of summer. Is this the nature of fronts and contrasting air masses? Can there be a reliably humid climate with seasonal variation, not equatorial?
So are you looking for a place that consistently has dew points that are moderately high but not too high (like 60-70F)? Or maybe you care less about dew point and more about RH only?
Actually, I can't really understand what you're looking for. On the one hand you say that you want dew points and RH to be as high as possible, and on the other hand I've seen you say that you need AC (which dries the air) whenever the indoor temp exceeds 25C. just wondering
Where I live RH below 30% is almost impossible. I personaly have breathing problems when RH is above 80% and I won't mention the constant stickiness and sweating (not very nice in cold weather), especially when you ride a bike
I live in an area where 30% RH is pretty common. It is infact humid weather in which I struggle with breathing/doing things without sweating bucketloads. It all depends what you're used to I guess?
So are you looking for a place that consistently has dew points that are moderately high but not too high (like 60-70F)? Or maybe you care less about dew point and more about RH only?
I enjoy dewpoints up to 80F. Summer is great at the Gulf Coast, and in Florida. I'm mostly referring to dewpoint depression, the difference between DP and actual temperature. Outside of summer it's not uncommon to see, for example, 72F with a dewpoint of 37F, which is surprising for a place surrounded by water. For some reason I was under the impression low humidity didn't happen there.
Key West is definitely the most consistently humid place in the country outside of Hawaii, but warmer than I like. So it seems like seasonal variation goes hand-in-hand with periods of dryness.
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Actually, I can't really understand what you're looking for. On the one hand you say that you want dew points and RH to be as high as possible, and on the other hand I've seen you say that you need AC (which dries the air) whenever the indoor temp exceeds 25C. just wondering
Never really noticed it inside. Discomfort comes largely from the overbearing quality of the sun.
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Originally Posted by forgotten username
Where I live RH below 30% is almost impossible.
Yet it happens many times every year in swampland at 30N and below...
yea very low relative humidity sucks. U.S. cold fronts are a killer and affect every place east of the rocky mountains, even Key West (though it is much rarer). what bothers me more about a cold front than the temperatures is the incredibly low humidity, which causes your skin to dry out very badly if you have sensitive skin... i remember one of the cold fronts that passed by my area in february caused the air to be so dry that frost never formed. (which saved my palms from destruction ) ...even though it was below 32°F for 8 hours reaching a minimum of around 27°F.
to answer the OP's question, its the continental influence. Asia has the same problem we do but western Europe tends to stay pretty moist even in the winter (I'm thinking Paris, France for good seasonal variation). I don't know the exact figures but the gulf stream goes a long way in keeping western Europe more humid and mild.
thats right Euros, you can thank Florida for your nice weather
Last edited by Sir Goosenseresworthie; 03-10-2015 at 06:44 PM..
As a euro, I' rather have dryer days in winter than 97% humidity in 2c weather; which is probably the worst and coldest-feeling weather. Give me dry cold air instead of that crap.
As a euro, I' rather have dryer days in winter than 97% humidity in 2c weather; which is probably the worst and coldest-feeling weather. Give me dry cold air instead of that crap.
I agree 97% might get annoying in cold weather. But when it's 15C or higher, at least moderate humidity is essential.
yeah, I guess even humidity lovers would agree that 97% is far from moderate. 50-70% RH is fine for me.
I just remember finding Toronto's winter surprisingly "mild" when I lived there because of the dry air (that is, when it wasn't during a blizzard or a very cold air mass with -25c, in that case I agree it was super cold). All my life I had seen weather forecasts for Canada or northern US where they would have these ridiculously low temperatures in winter that we never got (or very occasionaly, and not for long), and once I lived there I was surprised that our winters were not that much warmer and nicer in terms of feeling. I realized the power of humidity.
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) ...even though it was below 32°F for 8 hours reaching a minimum of around 27°F.
