Additional Heavy Rain and Flooding Concerns in Central Texas; Tropical Storm Chantal to Impact the Coastal Carolinas

Heavy rainfall and flooding concerns remain for today across Central Texas and the Hill Country, with scattered thunderstorms expected this afternoon and evening. Tropical Storm Chantal has formed and will bring heavy rainfall and flooding concerns to portions of the coastal Carolinas. Life-threatening surf and rip currents are expected from the Southeast to Mid-Atlantic. 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.

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Additional Heavy Rain and Flooding Concerns in Central Texas; Tropical Storm Chantal to Impact the Coastal Carolinas

Water Vapor Answer 2