Summer's Overwhelming Stickiness Revealed: An Examination of the Causes Behind This Year's Sticky Weather
Rising Summer Humidity Levels Plague Eastern United States
Climate change is causing summer humidity levels in the United States, especially east of the Rockies, to reach record highs, making summers feel more muggier and oppressive than in past decades.
This year, the eastern half of the US has been hit hard by extreme humid conditions. The June and July average dew point east of the Rockies exceeded 66°F, surpassing all previous records since measurements began in 1950. Cities like Philadelphia, Washington, and Baltimore saw multiple days with dew points reaching or exceeding 75°F, which is categorized as "oppressive" humidity.
The warmer global temperatures allow the atmosphere to hold more moisture, intensifying summer humidity. This effect increases the intensity and duration of humid conditions and contributes to more frequent and intense summer storms with heavier rainfall.
The higher humidity compounds the effect of heat by pushing heat index values (apparent temperatures) into the triple digits in many regions, notably the Central Plains, Midwest, and Ohio and Mississippi River valleys. Nights are also warmer with higher minimum temperatures, reducing overnight relief from the heat.
A lack of summertime cold fronts allows moist air masses to stagnate over large areas, particularly over the East Coast, leading to prolonged periods of high humidity. Additionally, increased agricultural irrigation and land use changes in the Midwest release water vapor into the atmosphere, further elevating local humidity levels.
The Bermuda high, a semi-permanent area of high pressure over the Atlantic Ocean, has been stronger than normal this year, sending frequent pushes of waterlogged air into the US. This has contributed to the skyrocketing dew points and the atmospheric moisture that has fueled flooding storms.
In summary, climate change is increasing summer humidity across much of the United States by warming the atmosphere, increasing moisture content, and altering weather patterns, resulting in hotter, more humid, and uncomfortable summers with more frequent extreme heat and humidity events. This summer's conditions have been record-breaking for nearly half the country, marking the muggiest start to the season in more than 40 years.
- The abnormal weather patterns, driven by climate change, have accelerated the growth of summer humidity levels nationwide, particularly on the eastern side of the United States.
- The increased moisture content in the atmosphere due to climate change and changes in environmental science has not only contributed to higher humidity but also resulted in the health-and-wellness issues associated with prolonged exposure to such conditions, like heat exhaustion and dehydration.
