What is it about humidity? We know—because we live in an area that often experiences high humidity during the middle of the year—that a hot day feels much hotter, and much less pleasant, when the humidity levels soar. A “dry heat” means “a tolerable heat.”
But what is it specifically about humidity that makes a hot summer day much harder to take? We have the answer to that question—and we also have a way to help you beat high humidity inside your home. (You’re on your own outside, however!)
Humidity and heat during the summer can combine to make what might otherwise be a pleasantly warm North Carolina day into it a tough slog for almost anybody. The reason for this is that the increased moisture in the air is something like putting on an extra layer of clothing: it traps more heat inside the body, making temperatures feel warmer. So an 80°F day will feel like it’s actually 90°F. When relative humidity rises above 60%—a common event around here—the discomfort kicks in.
Heat is only one of the enemies of comfort during our summers in Raleigh. The other one is humidity. The higher levels of moisture in the air makes is harder for the human body to release heat through perspiration, which is why humid days feel hotter than the actual temperature. A 90°F day is hot no matter which way you look at it, but a 90°F day with 80% relative humidity can be utterly miserable.
500 E Gannon Avenue,
Zebulon,
NC
27597
Monday - Friday 7:30am - 6pm, Saturday 7:30am - 3pm.
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