How do Summers in the East compare to the rest of the state? (Memphis: calculator, living in)

[stealheadrun23]

Sorry if this has been beaten to death but I wasn't able to turn up any related results in the advanced search. I am trying to get a better sense of what Summers in the tri-cities area are like. A few years ago I spent some time outside of Tulsa, Oklahoma during the Summer and I can say with confidence I do not like hot, humid, insect-overabundant weather.

I understand Tennessee in general is characterized by a similar type of weather in the Summer, but I was wondering if the relatively mountainous climate of the Eastern part of the state did anything to reduce these things in the Summer months.

What is the "bug season" like in the tri cities area? Thank you for your time.

[DubbleT]

Elevation is key, the higher you go the cooler it will be. Your perception of it will also depend on what you are used to, where you live that you are comparing it to. Compared to central FL, it's great. Compared to somewhere dry out west, it's probably going to feel oppressive.

I moved here from Memphis a little over a decade ago and kept a blog for a short time with some weather comparisons (one of my main reasons for moving was the heat and humidity of Memphis summers!) In general Bristol/JC was anywhere from roughly 5 to 15 degrees cooler than Memphis with a substantially lower dewpoint. Higher dewpoints equal a higher heat index and a more uncomfortable, 'stickier' feel.
A page from my blog: https://www.city-data.com/blogs/3163...et-page26.html

Here are a couple of tools if you want to dig around a little and do some comparisons for yourself. First a heat index calculator https://www.calculator.net/heat-index-calculator.html
and then a source for historical temps https://www.wunderground.com/history...n/bristol/KTRI

My biggest bug problems are stink bugs, japanese lady beetles, box elder bugs, and ants. There have been comments about ticks, chiggers, and fleas but as I don't walk through tall grass or have any pets that go outside I haven't really had to deal with such since I moved here.

[rrampage]

Humid air is heavy and will sink in the valleys of East Tennessee. So while Summers tend to be cooler than other parts of the state, heavy humid air will sink into the valleys mitigating the overall temperature feel. Elevated areas should feel quite pleasant, by comparison. But, make no mistake, it can still get quite hot in East Tennessee. The Chattanooga and Knoxville "holes" will be quite hot, for sure.

[stealheadrun23]

Thank you for the insights. I was interested more particularly in the Johnson City area and along the NC border.

[DubbleT]

Originally Posted by stealheadrun23

Thank you for the insights. I was interested more particularly in the Johnson City area and along the NC border.

I'm quoting a super old post for you, but since elevation doesn't change much I reckon it still suits it's purpose.
Basically unless you are looking for SMALL you're going to be looking at one of the actual tri-cities: JC/KPT/Bristol (VA & TN) if you want to stay closer to the NC border, as opposed to the Knoxville or Chattanooga areas

Originally Posted by kamoshika

Listed by ascending elevation; additions/corrections welcome:

20. Tracy City - 1830'
19. Beersheba Springs - 1845'
18. Crossville - 1863'
17. Altamont - 1870'
16. Monterey - 1875'
15. Midway - 1885'
14. Coalmont - 1890'
13. Walden - 1900'
12. Pleasant Hill - 1902'
11. Gruetli-Laager - 1918'
10. Sewanee - 1920'
10. Monteagle - 1920'
8. Unicoi - 1930'
7. Butler - 1974'
6. Flag Pond- 2038'
5. Fairfield Glade - 2060'
4. Laurel Bloomery - 2412'
3. Mountain City - 2429'
2. Roan Mountain - 2575'
1. Shady Valley - 2790'

https://www.city-data.com/forum/1747319-post1.html

[BamaDave]

Johnson City has an average July high/low of 86/64 versus 94/73 in Tulsa and 92/74 in Memphis. Having lived in the humid Southeast almost my entire life, 86/64 in July sounds like a dream, especially the 64 at night! There is a big "feel" difference, too, between 86 and the low to mid 90's. I noticed that Johnson City's all-time high is 102 (this happened during June), and the all-time July and August highs are 99. Anyone who's spent time in Tulsa or Memphis will tell you that upper 90's happen every summer, and low 100's are not exactly rare.

[Serious Conversation]

There's plenty of hot and humid here, but it's nothing like Memphis, the Deep South, or even the Piedmont in NC.

[suzytx]

Originally Posted by BamaDave

Johnson City has an average July high/low of 86/64 versus 94/73 in Tulsa and 92/74 in Memphis. Having lived in the humid Southeast almost my entire life, 86/64 in July sounds like a dream, especially the 64 at night! There is a big "feel" difference, too, between 86 and the low to mid 90's. I noticed that Johnson City's all-time high is 102 (this happened during June), and the all-time July and August highs are 99. Anyone who's spent time in Tulsa or Memphis will tell you that upper 90's happen every summer, and low 100's are not exactly rare.

I endured 27 days of 100+ degree temperature (2011) in Austin, TX so I am very happy to be living in the Tri-Cities area now.

[Johnny Wadd]

Summers anywhere east of the Mississippi River are generally hot and humid, that includes Boston, Chicago, etc. You can't get away from it except going up in the mountains.

Really the question you should be asking is how long are the "summers" and when do spring and fall like weather start and end.

[stealheadrun23]

Originally Posted by Johnny Wadd

You can't get away from it except going up in the mountains..

Having not visited the region yet and only having the relative elevation data to reference, I guess my question is: is (North)East Tennessee not "up in the mountains"?