Stop Checking Humidity, Check The Dew Point

In Deep East Texas, we always say it's not the heat, it's the humidity, but that is not entirely true. When we are talking about how it feels outside here, looking at the humidity percentage is not the best way.

Get our free mobile app

The southeastern side of Texas is a very humid area. If you walk outside now, it is very humid, and you will start sweating almost immediately.

The relative humidity in Lufkin is only 59% at this time. It's less than 100%, so you would think it would be less soupy outside, but you would be wrong.

Follow The Dew Point To Get An Idea Of Real Feel

The dew point and humidity are both ways to measure the amount of moisture in the air outside. They seem similar, but they are very different.

The relative humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air, relative to its maximum capacity at that exact time during the day. It's just not a useful number with the amount of moisture in the air here.

The dew point is the temperature at which water vapor in the air will condense back into liquid water. So the higher the dew point, the more moisture in the air, and the more humid it will be outside.

Read More: Picking Pecans In Texas Could Lead To Jail Time

Keep Reading: Cool Off At One Of These 6 Splash Pads

In our area, the warmer it is, the more water the air can hold. An ideal dew point is 50 to 60.

Today, our dew point is 75. That is air you can swim in, and translates into a bad hair day and extra deodorant swipes. This may not bode well, as the first day of summer 2025 starts on June 20th.