Severe Thunderstorms and Heavy Rain Across the Central US and Central Appalachians

Severe thunderstorms producing damaging winds, hail and possibly a few tornadoes are expected across parts of the central Plains and the Missouri Valley. Heavy rainfall and flash flooding is also expected in the area. Thunderstorms and heavy rain may also bring additional flooding impacts to the central Appalachians. High temperatures and critical fire weather conditions expected in the Southwest. Read More >

A Discussion on Water Vapor (Moisture)

QUESTION 2:

If the air temperature was 95 F with a dewpoint of 70, would the air's relative humidity be higher or lower than if the air temperature was 70 with a dewpoint of 55? Which air mass would feel more uncomfortable to you?

ANSWER 2:

If the air temperature was 95 and the dewpoint temperature was 70, the relative humidity of this air mass would be 45 percent. The relative humidity in this case seems rather low, doesn't it, despite a hot air temperature and high dewpoint? Conversely, the relative humidity for the air mass with a temperature of 70 and a dewpoint of 55 would be about 60 percent. In other words, the relative humidity for this cooler air mass containing less moisture would actually be HIGHER than that for the hotter, more humid air mass. This shows how relative humidity can be very misleading and that one cannot consider relative humidity alone to determine how humid it feels outside. In this example, obviously the air mass with a relative humidity of 45 percent would feel more uncomfortable than the air with a relative humidity of 60 percent.

Back to Discussion on Water Vapor

Weather Story

Weather Map

Local Radar

LMK RSS Feed

Severe Thunderstorms and Heavy Rain Across the Central US and Central Appalachians

Water Vapor Answer 2