When is hot weather hot?

Angie

I only refer to weather as hot when it's 30 degrees and above (86 Farenheit and hotter). Weather in the 20s is mild and at best warm, (in the 70s farenheit), but not hot.

Does this resonate with you? Or am I from Mars.

11 years ago

Dressing

78 replies

Latest reply was from Jenny H

Eliza

Veteran

For me, hot is not just a temperature, but a sensation. Therefore, how cloudy it is matters, as well as humidity and amount of breeze. On a bright day, away from shade, with high humidity, I can be hot at 82. But apart from that, I am with you. Mid-eighties are hot, seventies are warm.

11 years ago

(website)

Veteran

Here in FL, over 85 is hot to me. The locals don't seem to think it's ever hot. I think their brains have melted over time HA!

11 years ago

(website)

Veteran

Oh, and hot means I can't walk half a mile without breaking a sweat. Or sit for 10 minutes outside without breaking a sweat.

11 years ago

Parsley

Veteran

Interesting!
I never had a specific cut-off point, but >30º C sounds reasonable. To me it's just hot when it feels hot, and that can also depend on the humidity. When it's 84º F here with 100% humidity, it sure can feel hot. If the air is drier and there's a breeze, not so much.

11 years ago

MuseumGal

Veteran

In OK it's not hot until about 95F/35C. Summers are generally over 100F/40C from June through the end of September.

Although the undergrads break out their short shorts and flipflops once it hits 59F/15C!

11 years ago

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

If the humidity is above say 80% then it can be hot in the 80's. If it's below that, then it's not too bad until it gets into the mid 90's.

11 years ago

Diana

Veteran

Humidity matters a great deal. In CA, I think your description (about 85ºF) is correct because the humidity is around 20%, but here in Boston, it's sweaty and miserable when it's 75 and 70% humidity. For me, "hot" is whenever I start to feel miserable walking around outside.

70s and LOW humidity is my ideal weather.

11 years ago

milehighstyle (Linda)

Veteran

We rarely have any humidity here in Denver, so for me above 95 F is hot. I think I'd feel differently in a humid climate.

11 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Angie -- in southern Ontario, we have a saying: It's not the heat. It's the humidity.

For us, that is very true.

Subjectively, it can feel "hot" where I live when the temperatures are only in the 20s but the air is very humid and there is no breeze.

Paradoxically, it can feel much cooler -- or at least more comfortable -- at 30 degrees (about 85 for US friends) if there is a breeze and the humidity is low.

Still, I generally wouldn't call the weather "hot" until it gets up around 28 or 30. And temps in the 20s are usually what I'd class as "nice" or "temperate."

11 years ago

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I am in your camp on this, Angie. I don't think it's really hot until the temperature is well into the upper 80s F. And my ideal weather is warm and sunny -- between about 74-84 F. I am always cold. As noted in a recent post, I grew up in a hot climate, and that's what I would prefer. Why I keep moving northwards up the US east coast is another question ...

11 years ago

Vildy

Veteran

I grew up in the semi-desert where we had water coolers to put water back into the air and it regularly reached 110 - 116. I don't remember minding it much. Stepping out of the sun into shade, or after sundown, made it feel noticeably cooler. Then when I visited relatives back East as a teenager I was astonished to find myself soaked in what felt like sweat just standing there.
So, for me, in the 80's and high humidity makes me feel insane with the heat.

11 years ago

catgirl

Veteran

Depends on where I am. In Hawaii, over 85 is hot. Here at home I am hot at 70. I went for a run yesterday - it was sunny and 75 and I almost collapsed! And there are people from other parts of the state who come to town in shorts in winter because 30 is hot for them.

I run cold in general - DH and I are about 15 degrees apart. If I'm comfy he's hot. If he's comfy I'm freezing. I actually prefer humidity to desert heat, but beach not city!

11 years ago

Peri

Veteran

Anything above 80. Humidity matters but in my corner of the world there is no heat without humidity.

11 years ago

Lisa

Veteran

I'm on Mars with you Angie. I do not consider it hot unless it's 85 F or higher. Less than that and shorts are not required for me. However, humidity does influence my internal temp and with high humidity, I drop 10 degrees F for what I consider hot. (of course, with high humidity, a/c's work more often, so I'm usually even colder indoors at those times).

11 years ago

Joyce B

Veteran

It depends on the humidity. With high humidity lower temps feel too hot. It's easier to tolerate heat in a dry climate.

11 years ago

Laurinda

Veteran

I'm with the Dairy Cows. Under 75F (24C), no stress.

11 years ago

Anonymous

I agree with your assessment but humidity is a major factor too. Sticky hot is different from dry heat. Right now our highs are in the 80s but with equally high humidity. In August 86F would seem cool to the 100F temps we usually have, but there is also usually less humidity...more oven than sauna.

11 years ago

AviaMariah

Veteran

In my dry and windy climate over 80 is hot. It's needs to be hot enough that the wind feels warm and doesn't make me reach for a topper.

11 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

What Peri said. But I can easily feel hot if it's under 80 and very humid and I'm walking briskly or god forbid, running. Yesterday I went for a vigorous bike ride when it was about 84 and quite humid, and I'm not feeling well today -- I don't think the two are unrelated. I don't do heat + humidity very well. I tolerate 95 in the desert better than 80 here at home.

11 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Fascinating. Most of us are on the same page, and you all make sense.

Ah. Yes. The humidity. I like Summer humidity actually - but not year round humidity.

Suz and Joy, it's amazing how 85 can feel cool after 100 degrees - when it's still quite hot.

Mo, those Floridians are acclimatized.

Diana, you would love Seattle weather.

Lisa, don't get me started on arctic a/c. I loathe it. I would rather be too hot outside than too cold inside.

Una, I've always thought that you run warm because you wear Summer clothes and sandals in the 60s.

Many Seattleites start complaining about the heat at 25 degrees. And since I'm a tropical gal - I cannot relate to it.

Those who complain about the heat and humidity on the East Coast - trust me. You have it made compared to the Middle East and places in Asia like Singapore. The heat and humidity there is absolutely relentless.

The hottest weather we have ever been in is 52 degrees Celsius (126 F) (very, very dry). In the Namibian dessert on the Orange River- we did a rafting trip for 5 days. Nothing lives away from the river water accept for insects, reptiles and birds.

11 years ago

biscuitsmom

Veteran

To me, its 'hot' if its in the upper 80's with high humidity and no breeze. otherwise I'm loving it. DH thinks its hot if it is 70 or more Which is why I spend our precious few months of warmth under a blanket in the A/C

11 years ago

amiable

Veteran

I live where it's a bit warmer than you, and reasonably humid (usually in the 70-80 percent range in the summer, I think). But it's also windier here than other places - there's almost always a breeze. Because of the breeze, I think, (and maybe because I run chilly), I consider "hot" somewhere near 90F and above. I can sleep quite comfortably until it exceeds 87F in my bedroom - then I feel a bit too warm.

11 years ago

Thistle

Veteran

I am with laurindra and the dairy Cows Perhaps because I live in the dairy State . . . .

It has been in the upper 60s low 70s and everyone here thinks it is full on summer. I have lived in New Orleans, so I know better, but I have acclimated partially to Wisconsin. Those long, cold, brutal winters really do make the 60s feel warm and the 70s feel like summer

11 years ago

ironkurtin

Veteran

As has been pointed out, humidity makes a huge difference. Ninety-five in dry heat isn't hot; 88 with humidity certainly is.

So I define hot as, when I go outside, does the temperature slam me in the head? If it's unpleasant, then yeah, it's hot.

11 years ago

EveningMood

Active Member

Upper 80's are hot for me. Up to 85, I can still wear boots and full length jeans. After 85, and that lasts almost 3 months here, I live in linen, shorts and sandals. And it's happening this weekend, but then I'm ready

11 years ago

doubleh

Veteran

If someone says "hot enough for ya?" then it is too hot.

11 years ago

dashielle (Ann)

(website)

Veteran

So, after growing up in Texas and moving to Seattle 20 some years ago, I've lost my heat acclimatization. Indoors, I'm hot if it's over 68ish unless a fan is on. Outside, hot varies for me too. 85F on the water can be fine, but in a still area, it's too much. Also my tolerance depends on whether I'm trying to look good or not...if I sweat in tanks and shorts, or my full body leather race suit and helmet, oh well. I just don't want to sweat on my nice clothes (cuz I'm a princess, lol)

11 years ago

April

Veteran

My family lives in the Southwest, where they get 120F days in the summer and you can literally burn your hand by accidentally touching the metal around your key when you start your car. When they visit here and it's 88 degrees, they carry on about how they can't breathe, can't move, can't go outside.

The humidity just makes things nasty once temps go over 80.

11 years ago

Gaylene

Veteran

Like Vildy, I never realized what hot meant until I hit those humid 30+ temps in Suz's southern Ontario. It was walking into a wall of heat. In my semi-arid area, we start calling it hot when the temps hover around 40+ (105F+) with the sun beating down and no breeze--and you are into the third or fourth day with the lowest night time temp never less than 28. If it wasn't for arctic a/c, I couldn't sleep, much less function.

ETA: *laughing*. You mean everyone doesn't carry a hankie around with them in the summer to open car doors and hold on to the steering wheel?

11 years ago

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