Why is Dallas so humid? (2023)

Does Dallas have high humidity?

DALLAS, TEXAS

This city's climate is often identified as humid subtropical, even though it is located in a region that tends to receive warm, dry winds during the summer from the north and west, with temperatures well over 100°F and heat indices soaring as high as 117°F.

In Dallas, the summers are hot and muggy, the winters are cold and windy, and it is partly cloudy year round. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 39°F to 96°F and is rarely below 26°F or above 102°F.

Dallas and Atlanta feature a comparable situation in terms of weather. Both cities feature subtropical climates, meaning residents can expect hot and humid summers with mild winters. While Dallas is a slightly hotter city than Atlanta, it's also less humid and rains less.

You might be surprised to see that our most northern state tops this list, but there's a reason that Alaska has the highest Relative Humidity (RH). Alaska has an average RH of 77%. The next highest state, Florida, comes in around 74% average RH.

House Method used weather data analyzed by the NOAA to find the least and most humid cities in the U.S. The study indicated the data was collected during mornings throughout 2021 and 2022 to determine the annual average humidity rankings. Brownsville tied for first with two other Texas cities: Port Arthur and Victoria.

On the other end of the spectrum, one Texas spot is among the 15 cities that are the least humid. El Paso has an average annual relative humidity of 50%.

The state with the highest humidity over the course of the year is Alaska.

Weather, Climate & Geography

Dallas and Miami both enjoy long, hot summers, although Miami tends to be much more humid.

Why does Dallas get so hot?

More than one-third of Dallas is covered in concrete and commercial and residential buildings. These impervious surfaces form urban heat islands, areas that absorb and then very slowly release the heat from the sun.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the hottest maximum temperature ever recorded in Texas occurred on June 28, 1994 in Monahans, which is a city in Ward County located near Odessa.

Notable Differences between Dallas and Orlando

Weather: Orlando gets about 20 more inches of rain per year than Dallas. Summers average about three or four degrees cooler than the Lone Star State, and winters stay about ten degrees warmer.

During every season, Florida, Louisiana and Texas are consistently among the top four of the nation's hottest states, based on state-wide average temperatures. Florida ranks overall as the warmest state year round.

Texas's location in the tropical zone of the planet and its nearness to a great body of water are two factors that give rise to the extreme weather conditions. (Aside from the humidity, Texas is also known for its high temperatures and occasional droughts.)

The Dallas-Fort Worth climate is humid subtropical with hot summers. It is also continental, characterized by a wide annual temperature range. Precipitation also varies considerably, ranging from less than 20 to more than 50 inches.

The concept of zero percent relative humidity — air completely devoid of water vapor — is intriguing, but given Earth's climate and weather conditions, it's an impossibility. Water vapor is always present in the air, even if only in trace amounts.

While there's no set humidity threshold above which general comfort level begins to deteriorate, NOAA typically considers relative humidity (RH) levels of 50% or more, and dewpoints (a more direct measure of humidity) above 65 F (18 C) to be uncomfortably high.

Where do you live if you hate humidity?

The desert cities of Las Vegas and Phoenix top the list of major American cities with the lowest humidity. Las Vegas clearly ranks as the driest, with an average relative humidity level of just 30 percent. Phoenix joins in as the only other big city that averages less than 40 percent humidity.

Texas' weather varies widely, from arid in the west to humid in the east. The huge expanse of Texas encompasses several regions with distinctly different climates: Northern Plains, Trans-Pecos Region, Texas Hill Country, Piney Woods, and South Texas.

1. Nevada. Unsurprisingly, the first entry on this list is a state famous for its arid climate and desert-like environment. With average relative humidity sitting at 38.3%, Nevada has the lowest relative humidity (when comparing states) in the country.

Average lows from June to August in Amarillo range from 61 to 65.2 degrees, and average summer highs range from 87.7 to 91.4 degrees. Stratford, about 80 miles north of Amarillo, even sees average low temperatures dip down to a cool 57.5 degrees during June.

In Austin, the average temperature is at least 11 degrees warmer than in the rest of the state. Even in the winter, the climate stays a little bit warmer. But if you want to beat the heat and look for more snow during the winter, then Fort Worth has the best record.

The Health and Safety Executive recommends that relative humidity indoors should be maintained at 40-70%, while other experts recommend that the range should be 30-60%. Most people find 30-60% most comfortable and this is the level that Airthings recommends.

The increased levels of moisture in the air when the weather is humid prevent your skin from drying out. If your skin is normal or dry, higher humidity levels can help your skin feel soft, supple, and more nourished in comparison to a drier climate.

If the air is totally saturated at a particular level (e.g., the surface), then the dewpoint temperature is the same as the actual air temperature, and the relative humidity is 100 percent.

The Trans-Pecos is the driest region in the state, with an average annual regionwide precipitation of 11.65 inches, while the Upper Coast (45.93 inches) and East Texas (44.02 inches) are the wettest.

What is the hottest Dallas has ever been?

The city's all-time recorded high temperature is 113 °F (45 °C) during the Heat Wave of 1980. The average daily low in Dallas is 58.1 °F (14.5 °C) and the average daily high in Dallas is 77.9 °F (25.5 °C).

New Orleans has the highest relative humidity among big US cities, with an average of nearly 86 percent. The Louisiana city is followed closely by second-ranked Jacksonville, Florida. These numbers are annual averages based on humidity readings taken every three hours from 1961 to 1990.

Both Dallas and Charlotte feature warm climates, with humid summers and mild winters. Dallas tends to get very hot in the summer, more so than Charlotte, but it also has lower humidity and less rain.

Austin has a lot more trees. Temperature: Dallas tends to be hotter in summer, colder in the winter. Dallas is almost always a Bit more humid.

Texas is absolutely the hottest and most insufferable state in the entire nation. Forget about Death Valley, Arizona, Nevada, Florida—none of them measures up. Texas alone has the right to be known as Number One, the worst.

The region of maximum tornado frequency known as Tornado Alley extends from west Texas northeast through the western and central portions of Oklahoma and Kansas and across most of Nebraska.

"The warmest city in Texas is unsurprisingly on the southern border with Mexico. McAllen's average annual high is a steamy 86 degrees." On the other end of that spectrum, the coldest city in Texas is Amarillo. Cheapism explains that Amarillo's average annual low temperature is only 44 degrees.

Seasons and Temperature

And, if you go in March, you can go to the city's famed rodeo for an authentic Texan experience. Summertime, on the other hand, is very hot and humid. Temperatures regularly climb well into the 90s throughout June, July and August. Dallas's weather is a bit milder than Houston's.

Where is the hottest place in USA?

Death Valley is famous as the hottest place on earth and driest place in North America. The world record highest air temperature of 134°F (57°C) was recorded at Furnace Creek on July 10, 1913. Summer temperatures often top 120°F (49°C) in the shade with overnight lows dipping into the 90s°F (mid-30s°C.)

Specifically, there is a 10.5% higher violent crime rate in Texas vs Florida per 1,000 people. And 11.2% higher property crime rate. So, the statistics make this category straightforward. The edge goes to Florida as the safer state to live in.

Both states have comparable taxes, though Texas does seem to have slightly better/lower tax rates than does Florida, particularly with their lack of property tax.

It is commonly held that the maximum temperature at which humans can survive is 108.14-degree Fahrenheit or 42.3-degree Celsius. A higher temperature may denature proteins and cause irreparable damage to brain.

Here's a look at the most humid cities in Texas: Brownsville (90%)

The Bad. Humidity (combined with Houston's heat) can also lead to enlarged pores, which makes it easier for dirt, debris, allergens, and more to clog your skin. This can lead to acne & uneven skin textures. Humidity can also increase sweat production leading to clogged pores, heat rash, and a greasy shine.

During every season, Florida, Louisiana and Texas are consistently among the top four of the nation's hottest states, based on state-wide average temperatures. Florida ranks overall as the warmest state year round.

Nevada has the lowest humidity. It's no coincidence the state is known for its desert and arid climate. With average relative humidity sitting at 38.3%, Nevada has the lowest relative humidity (when comparing states) in the country. Where is it 70 degrees year-round in the United States?

Fort Worth has the fewest muggy days in Texas.

There are about 1/3 of the days with a 65°- 68° dew point (mid-May thru mid-September) with a few of those days at a 70° - 72° dew point. Dallas has just a few more muggy days because it is 200 ft.