Heat and your MS

[Howie]

That sounds like breathing underwater to me!

That's how I describe walking out the front door here into the outdoors. It's like walking into a wall of water. The South is very humid in the Summer. AC is my life saver.

[agate]

Do you remember what any of them mean?

I still recall quite a few Russian words. I can come up with more abstract words but have trouble with everyday, conversational words. This makes it hard for my Russian neighbors to understand because I can come up with common greetings but can't take part in a conversation such as they might have among themselves. But I can translate written material.

A while back some neighbors had written a birthday poem for the managers and wanted me to translate it. It was no problem at all for me--it was short and not difficult. They probably wonder why I don't talk to them more. The vocabulary just isn't there any more without a dictionary, and people won't hang around waiting for me to look up words.

[nuthatch]

It's all confusing, so I looked it up! Here's what I found:

Relative humidity and dew point are often mistaken for the same thing, and can be sources of confusion. We have recently gotten questions about the differences between the two, and which is more relevant in everyday life.
Relative humidity and dew point both give us an idea of the amount of moisture in the atmosphere; however only dew point is a true measurement of the atmospheric moisture.
Relative humidity is defined by the National Weather Service as the amount of atmospheric moisture present, relative to the amount that would be present if the air were saturated. But what does that really mean? In short, the relative humidity is a function of both the moisture content in the atmosphere and the actual air temperature. By itself, it does not directly indicate the amount of moisture present in the atmosphere.
Relative humidity is calculated using meteorological variables such as vapor pressure, saturation vapor pressure, temperature and dew point. Without explaining the equation variable by variable, we can simply state that the relative humidity is determined by how close the air temperature is to the dew point temperature. The closer these values are, the higher the humidity. The further apart these values are, the lower the humidity.
Dew point is the term that most meteorologists use to describe the amount of moisture in the air. The National Weather Service defines dew point as the temperature to which air must be cooled to in order to reach saturation, assuming air pressure and moisture content are constant. In short, the dew point is an accurate measurement of the moisture content in the air. When talking about a certain day feeling “muggy” or “sticky,” the dew point temperature is the more accurate term to use.

So now it's 91 degrees here, with 25% humidity and a dew point of 50. That's 41 between temp and dew point.
But in Boston it's 74 degrees with a dew point of 64 . . . only a difference of 10

Cary, NC is 70 degrees, 96% humidity, with a dew point of 69! 1 difference . . . sounds miserable! Isn't Virginia in NC?

[Howie]

Yes, Virginia is in NC. But I live in Virginia. Confused? Don't worry, it's all relative!

[nuthatch]

yep, I remember that you're in VA and Virginia is in NC . . . no idea what cities. FYI it's 73 degrees in Norfolk, 86% humidity and a dew point of 69 . . . 4 difference . . . sounds soupy out there in ol' Virginny! Stay in your room!

[Howie]

Stay in your room!

But mommy, I was being good.....well I was trying.....OKAY, I'm going, I'm going!

[Virginia]

Nuthatch, where your nephew lives is a suburb of Raleigh, NC - where I live. It has grown so much that they like to think they are completely separate from us, however I remember it when it was little more than a crossroads. The dew point and humidity would have been very high here today, it rained much of the day so when it is raining I guess it would be close to 100%. Kind of a miserable day, but would have been fine if I had not had to go out, but I did have to.

I think at one time we accused Agate of being a spy and now we know why she understands Russian. I think she works for the KGB. So yes she is probably up to "no good" when she is not here.

[Jeanie Z]

:) I remember when i was flying Cessna's in the early 80's that if the dew point and the temperature were the same it was foggy and I could not fly unless I had an instrument rating. Before I could get that rating the FAA made me turn in my license because I had told the FAA doctor I had MS.

That was very unfair as at that time I had no symptoms that would hamper my ability to fly the plane.

Today here was in the 90's and the humidity was very high. I hate to think what August will be like. Jeanie :)

[agate]

So Virginia is in N. Carolina, and Delaware is wearing a New Jersey. Hmm.

(Old song some may know:

What did Delaware, boys?
What did Delaware?
She wore her New Jersey....

What did Idaho, boys?
What did Idaho?
She hoed her Maryland....

There's more to it that I can't remember.)

Howie, I hope you're still in your room. You can come out when you're ready to eat your vegetables.

[Howie]

Vegetables?

[SuzE-Q]

Jeanie,

A Harley and now a Cessna...Wow!

You've driven some pretty darn impressive modes of transport in your life!

And you just so casually throw out these details like it's perfectly common to have a little Cessna in your drive!

Between you and Howie...you were both sporting some pretty eclectic wheels!

[SalpalSally]

High humidity ... High due point. Either or sucks!

[Frog42]

Vegetables?

Aren't potatoes vegetables? Until we find out for sure you'd better not have any french fries or potato chips.

[Howie]

Potatoes are veggies, but tomatoes are a fruit. That's all I learned from 12 years of school!

[stillstANNding]

The dew point is now 70!! Killer for MS symptoms. I am dressed. Fed the cats. That's about it. NPR is the only reason I am not losing my mind.

ANN