Wow! Big Storm in Phoenix

Aug 29, 2008 22 Replies

formatting link

Temperature of 90 F and RH of 80% is a dewpoint of of about 83 F.

That is a rare extreme actually for anywhere in the USA.

Weather.com publishes a dewpoint map, and the highest I ever saw on that map was 82 F, for the worst of the heatwave of July 12-15 1995. I have looked at that map hundreds of times, mostly at times of the year when the numbers on that map are higher.

I tried web searching for extremely high dewpoints in the USA, and as it turns out 86 F dewpoint does rarely turn up for localized areas in late morning in a severe heatwave in an agricultural area favoring humidity (Iowa cornfield or a steamy spot in Georgia).

I suspect you are remembering the RH from breakfast time and not realizing that it drops when the temperature goes up as the day goes on.

The worst dewpoint recorded in Chicago was 83 degrees F - I think that was on July 12 or 13 or so 1995.

The worst dewpoint I know Philadelphia to have been befallen with was at 4 PM July 15 1995. (Unusually late in the day in a heatwave - dewpoint on a heatwave day usually peaks in late morning or close to noon.) 102 F, 54% RH, dewpoint 82 F. The heat index was 129 F. - Don Klipstein ( snipped-for-privacy@misty.com)

91 F at 50% RH is dewpoint of 70-71 F. That sounds to me just a little or somewhat high for Phoenix area in Arizona's "monsoon season", which Arizona is most of the way through but still in for this year.

The Arizona "monsoon season" is the mid-late summer time when humidity doubles and spotty thunderstorms pop up here and there on many days. RH at time of high temperature in Phoenix doubles from single digits when the monsoon humidity comes in. As in dewpoint jumps from 40's F to upper

50's and 60's F.

- Don Klipstein ( snipped-for-privacy@misty.com)

I've lived here for 46 years. Today was EXCEPTIONALLY muggy. I know you leftist wusses think you know it all, but I had a sample still in mind from a week ago in WV to compare it to ;-)

...Jim Thompson

| James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens | | Analog Innovations, Inc. | et | | Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC\'s and Discrete Systems | manus | | Phoenix, Arizona 85048 Skype: Contacts Only | | | Voice:(480)460-2350 Fax: Available upon request | Brass Rat | | E-mail Icon at http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 | Liberalism is a persistent vegetative state

Join the Discussion

Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.

Didn't find your answer?

Ask the community — no account required