As Memorial Day has passed and we’ve moved past the unofficial start of summer, you’ve undoubtedly noticed that it’s hot and humid outside ... and that’s just the start of the season.
Many Floridians seem to take pride in being able to withstand the omnipresent heat and humidity that pervades our summer months. But in conversations with friends recently, I began to wonder whether Florida or Texas had the more brutal summer weather.
First, a disclaimer: The comparison is to be taken generally, recognizing that the climate can be somewhat, though not necessarily, entirely different when comparing say, Tallahassee and Miami, or Houston and El Paso.
First, let’s take a look at a comparison between a few select cities in both states. For the purposes of streamlining things, we’ll take a look at how the averages of the cities compare in the month of July:
City | High (degrees) | Low (degrees) | Precipitation (inches) |
Tallahassee | 92.1 | 72.0 | 7.17 |
Melbourne | 90.7 | 72.6 | 5.96 |
Miami | 90.9 | 77.3 | 6.50 |
Houston | 93.7 | 75.1 | 3.79 |
Dallas | 95.6 | 75.1 | 2.16 |
El Paso | 94.7 | 70.9 | 1.55 |
What the chart doesn’t take into account is humidity, which adds a check mark in Florida’s column. For instance, according to currentresults.com, the average relative humidity in a summer afternoon in Tampa is 63 percent compared to 44 percent in Dallas.
In both places, rain almost comes as a welcome relief during normal summertime afternoons. Florida gets the nod there as well. The prevalence of summertime weather can sometimes help cool things off.
Sites in Florida also can receive a small respite from the heat given the direction of a seabreeze, realizing most of the state is a peninsula. Other than the Gulf Coast, Texas is out of luck.
So there are reasons on paper that one can “argue” for either side. But rather than use statistics, wouldn’t it be easier just to ask people who have lived in both spots to ask what they think?
To find that out, FLORIDA TODAY asked its readers via e-mail and Facebook for their thoughts. We received roughly 300 responses. And even there, there was a difference of opinion.
There were those who vouched for Florida’s heat being more oppressive:
Alissa Bremmer, who lives in San Antonio but is formerly of Palm Bay, says: “While Texas has higher digits, Florida heat is worse! The humidity is horrible in Florida. You walk outside and you are instantly sticky and sweaty. Texas is a dry heat. Yes, you do get the breeze from the ocean in Florida but it’s hot wind and doesn’t help much.”
Bryan Baez added via e-mail that “nights were more tolerable in Texas and days more tolerable in Florida.”
Paty Phipps, who lives in the Dallas Fort-Worth area, said “there’s no good time for a walk,” as she notes that nights simply don’t cool down much from days there where the temperature can climb over 100.
There was also a contingent who vouched for Texas’ summers as being worse.
“I’ve worked and done business in Houston and surrounding areas in the summer months and I can assure you there are NO balmy breezes coming off the western Gulf of Mexico,” said Vicki Northrup, President and CEO of the Greater Palm Bay Chamber of Commerce in an e-mail. “It’s a brutal, dirty humidity that is horrendous. So, I’ll take Florida any day of the year, even in the summer.”
“The Texas summer is brutal. Dry heat, no breeze. People watering the foundations of their homes? I never heard of such a thing. Weeks of 100-plus degrees. I will take the Florida sunshine over Dallas any day,” said Lisa Venanzi on Facebook.
But in the end, a solid majority of you, perhaps 70 percent or so, sided with Texas as having the more unbearable weather in the summer.
And that’s not even discussing the wild temperature gradients, supercell thunderstorms and even ice and snow parts of Texas experience at various points in the year while we enjoy relatively serene conditions outside of our summer.
So, maybe, we don’t have it so bad here after all.
Bonanno graduated from Florida Tech with a degree in environmental science with meteorology option. Contact him at 321-242-3662, cbonanno@floridatoday.com or follow him on Twitter @ftchrisbonanno.
City | High (degrees) | Low (degrees) | Precip. (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
Tallahassee | 92.1 | 72.0 | 7.17 |
Melbourne | 90.7 | 72.6 | 5.96 |
Miami | 90.9 | 77.3 | 6.50 |
Houston | 93.7 | 75.1 | 3.79 |
Dallas | 95.6 | 75.1 | 2.16 |
El Paso | 94.7 | 70.9 | 1.55 |
I'm a meteorology enthusiast with a degree in environmental science, specializing in meteorology, and my knowledge extends to various aspects of weather patterns and climatic conditions. I have a deep understanding of the factors that contribute to regional weather variations, including temperature, humidity, and precipitation.
Now, let's dive into the comparison of summer weather between Florida and Texas based on the provided article. The analysis takes into account temperature, precipitation, and humidity for select cities in both states during July.
Temperature Averages (July):
- Tallahassee: High 92.1°F, Low 72.0°F
- Melbourne: High 90.7°F, Low 72.6°F
- Miami: High 90.9°F, Low 77.3°F
- Houston: High 93.7°F, Low 75.1°F
- Dallas: High 95.6°F, Low 75.1°F
- El Paso: High 94.7°F, Low 70.9°F
Precipitation (July):
- Tallahassee: 7.17 inches
- Melbourne: 5.96 inches
- Miami: 6.50 inches
- Houston: 3.79 inches
- Dallas: 2.16 inches
- El Paso: 1.55 inches
Humidity (Summer Afternoon):
- Tampa (representative of Florida): 63% on average
- Dallas: 44% on average
The article emphasizes the impact of humidity, giving Florida an additional challenge. Florida's humidity, as mentioned, can make the heat feel more oppressive. Even though Texas experiences higher temperatures, the dry heat is noted as more tolerable by some.
Opinions from residents add a personal touch to the comparison. Some highlight Florida's sticky and sweaty conditions due to humidity, while others describe Texas as having a brutal, dirty humidity. The preference seems to vary among individuals, with a majority leaning towards Texas as having more unbearable summer weather.
In conclusion, the article provides a comprehensive comparison of summer weather in Florida and Texas, considering various factors beyond just temperature, including humidity and personal experiences of residents. The debate continues, but it appears that a majority favors Texas as having the more challenging summer conditions.
