The Importance of Considering Average Humidity

In many ways, humidity is the piece of the weather puzzle that is most commonly overlooked by the average person. It tends to be temperature and precipitation that receive most of the attention, along with the wind. But humidity plays a major role in how the weather feels each day, and particularly high or low humidity levels can have an impact on operations in many industries.

If you need to plan for the weather in a specific area, forgetting to factor in the expected humidity levels would be a big mistake. Fortunately, this dataset has everything you need to make informed, strategic choices. With detailed data on average humidity by city, you’ll have a comprehensive resource available in one easy-to-use spreadsheet.

Tips to Remember the Difference Between Dew Point and Relative Humidity

When the topic of humidity comes up, there are two big pieces of data that will dominate the conversation – relative humidity and dew point. But what’s the difference between those two?

If you are not familiar with the terms, or just need a refresher, here are the basics –

• Relative humidity: When you read a reported value on relative humidity, it is expressed as a percentage – you might way the humidity is currently 50%, for example. This is because relative humidity is a measure of how saturated the air is in a given area. If the air is halfway to being completely saturated, the humidity would be 50%. Should it reach 100%, that means the air is holding as much moisture as it can hold at that temperature.

• Dew point: As opposed to relative humidity, dew point is expressed as a temperature, rather than a percentage. The dew point temperature is the temperature that the air would need to reach to hit 100% humidity. When thinking about how the weather will feel in terms of comfort, it’s actually the dew point that is more important than relative humidity. A higher dew point means more moisture is in the air and the air will feel humid or “sticky”.

It’s not a matter of determining which of these two pieces of data is “more important”, as each can have value when evaluating the conditions outside. Knowing what they both mean can help you interpret weather data more accurately and make informed decisions as a result.

What Can You Do with Humidity Data?

Humidity, especially when it is extreme in one direction or the other, can have a serious impact on businesses and other organizations. By using a database like this one that covers all U.S. zip codes with accurate humidity data, you can know what to expect and will be able to plan for the likely conditions accordingly. If you fail to plan for humidity, you might find that your expenses are much higher than expected, your equipment doesn’t last as long, or other issues.

Application and Usage of the Dataset

Let’s take a look at some simple examples of how businesses and other organizations might use historical humidity data to their advantage.

Governments Planning for Safety

When the relative humidity soars, along with a high dew point – as happens in the summer months in some areas – conditions for those living outside can become quite dangerous. Knowing this, government groups can plan ahead and have additional shelters, drinking water, and other resources available for the homeless population.

Companies Planning for Equipment Purchases

Areas of high humidity will often take a premature toll on machinery. With so much moisture in the air throughout much of the year, machines may be more prone to rust and other issues sooner than they would be in a drier climate. Knowing this in advance will allow businesses to plan their purchasing schedules accordingly so they can avoid surprise expenses in the years ahead. Also, it may be possible to purchase different pieces of equipment that will be less prone to the damaging impacts of high humidity.

Creating a Comfortable Office

It’s not only machinery that can become worn down when the relative humidity and dew point reach uncomfortably high levels. Workers can also experience a decrease in productivity, as well. So, when creating a new office – or updating an old one – organizations can keep the expected humidity levels in mind and install HVAC systems that will be able to keep the inside of the building as comfortable as possible.

Optimizing Hair Care Services

Businesses in the hair care industry will want to pay particular attention to the humidity data in this spreadsheet, as the level of moisture in the air can have a big impact on hair. Specifically, high humidity is often associated with frizzy, coiling hair, which can be particularly frustrating for individuals trying to achieve a specific look. Businesses in the hair care industry will better be able to predict these issues when they are familiar with the prevailing local conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What cities & states have the worst humidity?

When talking about the “worst” humidity, most people will be referring to areas where the weather feels uncomfortable. In that case, it’s really the dew point that we are after, and that title goes to the southern states. Places like Florida, Mississippi, and Louisiana tend to record quite high dew point levels throughout the summer months, often making for difficult conditions for both residents and businesses.

What is an uncomfortable humidity?

The idea of “comfort” varies from person to person, so there is no one answer that can set a level for when humidity becomes uncomfortable. With that said, when the relative humidity starts to move above 50%, many people will start to feel like the air is “heavy” and they may sweat more than they would otherwise. This is typically true when a humidity above 50% is paired with a rather high temperature.

What city is the least humid place in the US?

A quick scan of the humidity average by city makes it easy to find the places that usually offer the driest air in the United States. As you might have guessed, cities that are located in the deserts of the U.S. southwest tend to be the driest, on average, over the course of the year. This means cities in Arizona, Nevada, and surrounding areas are good places to look, including major population centers like Las Vegas and Phoenix.