Is Summer in Tucson really that unbearable? (Phoenix, Miami: university, live in)

[miamiman]

Hey all,

I'm planning on speding the summer (early June-early August) in Tucson for a summer program at the University of Arizona. I have heard about Tucson's notorious summer heat, but hear that it's pretty dry. Also, it doesn't look like the temperature rises above 105-107 that often, and cools significantly off at night. I am live in Pennsylvania, but as my name implies, have spent considerable time in Miami, FL. For those of you that have live or spent some time in Tucson, is the summer heat truly that bad?

[Idaho]

Coming from the humid heat of eastern USA, you will likely be quite comfortable in Tucson in summer.
June may be tough for you, but wear SUNSCREEN, no matter how well you tan, drink lots of water & stay near the a/c.
July & August are cooler, but humid for the desert - will still feel dry to you, probably - July is the beginning of monsoon season.
In Tucson, that means torrential downpours daily, but pretty much isolated to the late afternoon/early evenings - and done in an hour or so.
Welcome to the Sonoran Desert. I've survived seven years here quite nicely, so far; thank you very much removed

[Steve-o]

Summers are alot hotter than Miami, but alot drier. Both are pretty miserable if you ask me, LOL. Tucson is generally a tad bit cooler than PHX, which might please you some. However, the dry air dehydrates you alot faster, so for lengthy outdoor excursions alot of water is a MUST! The sun down there is also alot more intense than elsewhere, its HOT. Stand next to a heat lamp sometime, that should give you an idea. In the shade is tolerable, but still toasty. Overall, the comfort levels might be a bit better than Miami, but not by much. Winters are alot colder than Miami's, even with occasional snowfalls.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Summers are alot hotter than Miami, but alot drier. Both are pretty miserable if you ask me, LOL. Tucson is generally a tad bit cooler than PHX, which might please you some. However, the dry air dehydrates you alot faster, so for lengthy outdoor excursions alot of water is a MUST! The sun down there is also alot more intense than elsewhere, its HOT. Stand next to a heat lamp sometime, that should give you an idea. In the shade is tolerable, but still toasty. Overall, the comfort levels might be a bit better than Miami, but not by much. Winters are alot colder than Miami's, even with occasional snowfalls.

Rubbish! You will find the summer much more tolerable than Miami. FL is miserable in summer, Tucson is just hot. The sun is hot in FL too, it's a latitude thing.

[ecloebl]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Summers are alot hotter than Miami, but alot drier. Both are pretty miserable if you ask me, LOL. Tucson is generally a tad bit cooler than PHX, which might please you some. However, the dry air dehydrates you alot faster, so for lengthy outdoor excursions alot of water is a MUST! The sun down there is also alot more intense than elsewhere, its HOT. Stand next to a heat lamp sometime, that should give you an idea. In the shade is tolerable, but still toasty. Overall, the comfort levels might be a bit better than Miami, but not by much. Winters are alot colder than Miami's, even with occasional snowfalls.

And there ain't no hurricanes in Tucson!

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by ecloebl

And there ain't no hurricanes in Tucson!

Nor miles and miles of beachfront.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

Rubbish! You will find the summer much more tolerable than Miami. FL is miserable in summer, Tucson is just hot. The sun is hot in FL too, it's a latitude thing.

If youd re-read my post, I said Tucson is more comfortable. We ALL know how dry Tucson is, so it goes w/o saying that Tucson is a bit more comfortable. BUT, saying that Miami's sun is as intense as AZs sounds crazy. I can go all day in Ft. Lauderdale accumulating only mild sunburn. One hour in PHX and Im lobster red. Desert sun is much more intense than tropical sun, anyone knows that.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

If youd re-read my post, I said Tucson is more comfortable. We ALL know how dry Tucson is, so it goes w/o saying that Tucson is a bit more comfortable. BUT, saying that Miami's sun is as intense as AZs sounds crazy. I can go all day in Ft. Lauderdale accumulating only mild sunburn. One hour in PHX and Im lobster red. Desert sun is much more intense than tropical sun, anyone knows that.

Crazy but true, Steve-o.

Check out this link and you will find that the clear sky UV index in Miami is consistently higher than it is in Phoenix. It frequently reaches "extreme in Miami" while rarely reaching that level in Phoenix. Miami also tends to have more days of the year where the forecast UV index is very high or extreme than does Phoeniix.

http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/product...v_annual.shtml

[eddie gein]

Have lived in Tucson and in Florida. And went from Tucson to Florida. At the time I was outside all the time. Here is my synopsis.

Tucson summer heat is relentless. It is like getting smacked in the face with a ping pong paddle when you walk outside. The sun is a brutal orb that is always on you and there is little in the way of shade. However, you don't sweat all that much so the biggest problem is the sun beating on you constantly.

Florida has much more shade and cloudcover and rain which relieves the heat somewhat relative to when you are in direct sunlight. This affect is somewhat helpful but no matter what you are always wet because the sweat just rolls off of you. It is more disgusting than anything because you feel like a big dog is slobbering on you at all times.

Tucson is a problem mostly because it is an everyday thing for 5 months and you get sick of it. On a day to day basis it is not all that uncomfortable but it just goes on too long.

[elfyum]

I lived in Tucson from '90-'93...I would assume the weather is still quite similar...Summer in Tucson RULES!!!!!!!!!!!
"So why did you move" you ask? ... The winter!
But looooove them desert summers! (Well, I love Miami summers too, but they're not as hot and much stickier! )