When do heat and humidity feel "muggy?"
FROM TODAY'S PRINT EDITIONS:
Veronica Piskor, in Bare Hills, wonders how forecasters can call for “muggy” weather when the expected relative humidity is less than 50 percent. “What constitutes muggy or humid in the meteorological community?”
Forecasters watch the dew point, not relative humidity, because hot air can hold more moisture than cool air.
At 90 degrees, we feel uncomfortable at dew points of 65-69 degrees. But the RH may be only 44 - 52 percent (half the atmosphere’s capacity). Dew points above 70 degrees feel oppressive.
(SUN PHOTO: Doug Kapustin, 1998)
Posted by Frank Roylance at 6:00 AM | Permalink
| Comments (2)
Categories: From the Sun's print edition
Categories: From the Sun's print edition
Comments
frank-
high humidity just wipes me out. curious, i was still unclear on the "relative" aspect of it until i found this useful video demonstration you might choose to post.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CL5cgXwKUXc
Posted by: ron mardeus | July 9, 2010 8:26 AM
I am always surprised how people overlook the Dew Point. That is the more revealing factor in determining air moisture, and comfort level then relative Humidity. I think once you start to get into the 50 degree plus Dew Point range in the summer it's uncomfortable.
Notice the beautiful weather we had before the holiday weekend, not only was the humidity hovering around 40%, but the Dew Point was in the 40's also.
And those 90 Degree days back in early April you could feel there was a big difference in that air mass, and this as usual awful July weather. It was much drier.
I want to move to Buenos Aires. Can't afford San Francisco.
Posted by: Mark | July 11, 2010 2:46 AM