Florida heat vs. Arizona heat

[luvflorida]

I've been to Florida quite a few times, and wow, it's hot down there! I've never been to Arizona, but will be going there in October for my daughter's wedding. She and her fiance will be attending graduate school there and plan on living there, (his family is from Arizona). Once our youngest graduates from high school, (three years), our daughter really wants us to move to Arizona. We have been seriously considering a move to Florida.

So, which is hotter, Florida or Arizona? Which has more bearable heat, or are they similar? Any opinions are appreciated. Thanks!

 

[cynsaun]

Arizona's heat is much more tolerable. It is a dry heat, so you don't feel like you are in a furnace. Don't get me wrong, it's hot, but at least you feel like you can breathe!

Have fun!

 

[NMAmy]

Personally, I prefer the Arizona heat--all that humidity in Florida makes me cranky. Plus, no hurricanes there!

Where will they be living? It will be much hotter in the Phoenix area than in the Flagstaff area (which is in the mountains.)

 

[antmaril]

Well, I think the big difference is humidity. Florida is hot and humid. While Arizona is just plain hot. To be honest, I've only been to Scottsdale in February (beautiful by the way), but I have been to Las Vegas in the summer (similar climate). It is brutally hot, but it is dry. Florida in the summer can be unbearable because of the humidity.

I prefer Arizona over Florida. Just my two cents, of course.

 

[jgmklmhem]

One thing to remember about the dry heat is to drink a great deal of fluids. Some people think that if they aren't drenched in sweat that they don't need to drink much...but your sweat evaporates so much quicker in the dryness that you don't notice you are doing it as much.

 

[dizdelight]

I've had visitors from out west (California, Arizona) visit me in FL and say they can't tolerate the humidity here. They find drier climate to be much more tolerable and as others have stated here, easier to breathe. I don't really know...have never visited the west but would like to find out for myself. Unfortunately, I may like the west so much that I won't want to return home!

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

I just moved from Louisiana to Arizona. Louisiana and Florida have similar climates, hot and very humid making it miserable outside. Arizona has much hotter temperatures, but very little humidity. Far more tolerable that the heat and humidity of the southeast. I love Arizona!!!

 

[JennyMominRI]

I think Florida's heat is much worse

 

[holycow]

I too would prefer Arizona heat to Fl...I've been in FL for 4 years now and still haven't adjusted!...I hate how it looks so nice outside and then I feel like melting into the sidewalk as soon as I step out side.

I've been to Az. before and swore I would never live there but after being here...I think I could probably tolerate it.

My sister moved to Az. after being in Co. for a few years....my mom just told me that they want to move back to Co. since they can't tolerate the heat!

Holycow

 

[luvflorida]

Personally, I prefer the Arizona heat--all that humidity in Florida makes me cranky. Plus, no hurricanes there!

Where will they be living? It will be much hotter in the Phoenix area than in the Flagstaff area (which is in the mountains.)

They will be attending the University of Arizona in Tucsun, which I believe is about an hour south of Phoenix.

 

[luvflorida]

Wow, sounds like Arizona's heat is more tolerable than Florida's. Of course, after living in Maine for an eternity any place will seem HOT to us!

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

They will be attending the University of Arizona in Tucsun, which I believe is about an hour south of Phoenix.

I am in Tucson! We are actually about 1 1/2 hours south of Phoenix and U of A is probably another 20 to 30 minutes south of us. Have fun on you visit. October is beautiful here. Shorts weather, but not unbearbaly hot (80s). You may even need a light jacket once the sun sets.

 

[doxdogy]

Most definitely Arizona. I was in Oklahoma couple of years ago in July. The heat was so much easier to take minus all the humidity. It was so nice to walk outside and not have the air sucked out of you from all the humidity.

 

[crazyforgoofy]

Leave it to me to be the odd one out. I prefer my heat with humditiy, thank you. When I'm in the Southwest in the really hot part of the year I feel as if I'm being drained of moisture and energy. I don't like Arizona's heat but I love Florida's. No one LOVES 100 degree temps with or without humidity but I prefer with if I have to choosel To each his/her own I suppose.

 

[p-nut]

Having lived in both Florida and Arizona my answer will have to be Florida. I love Arizona winters but you can keep the summers.

 

[Mrs.Milo]

I've lived in Phoenix most of the last 20 years, and can understand both positions since we've spent many vacations at WDW during summer. I think for me the difference is that you can be outside in Florida in the summer; you may be miserable and drenched in sweat, but you can do it. In Arizona, the only way to stay outside for a prolonged period in summer, is to be in the shade but keep VERY hydrated, or to be in and out of a pool so that your body has a chance to cool down. Running errands on the weekends when it's 105-110 or more, and your car is an oven each time you climb back in and doesn't have a chance to cool off before your next stop, drains the life out of me. I can't wait to retire in Florida and see how the other half lives!

 

[Feralpeg]

I don't see a great deal of difference. Hot is hot. In Florida, it gets into the 90s and it's humid which makes it feel like 105. In Arizona it is 105 to 110. HOT!

Everyone always told me that I wouldn't mind the heat in Arizona because it wasn't humid. I stepped out of the car and felt like my skin crinkle due to the heat. No thanks!

 

[elan]

p-nut I agree with you. I know the heat is dry in AZ but who cares when it's 115!

luvflorida..October is a good time to visit.

 

[justhat]

I love Arizona and we hope to move there in June 2006! With that said, I could never move to the southeast. For me, it's not so much the summers, but the year round humidity in the southeast that I don't like. Even when it's not too hot, it's still humid, plus it's hot all day, whereas it does cool off in the desert at night. The way I look at it, here in DC (or NJ where I'm originally from) we are sorta locked inside in the winter cause it's cold. So in Arizona, we'd be locked inside in the summer instead. In the southeast though (my husband is from New Orleans), that humidity last more than just the summer, which is what I don't like. Plus, I LOVE the scenery of mountains and desert in Arizona. Sigh, makes me want to go back right now, but we can't till September!

 

[mzzzh]

I guess I'm checking in a little late with my two cents...but I live in Arizona. The summers can be real scorchers...but you said you would be here in October....my favorite time of year here! As for Florida.....I don't like the humidity or the bugs...but WDW is there so it ain't all bad!