Dew Point Vs Humidity

Privacy Policy

La Crosse, WI

Weather Forecast Office

• Current Hazards
  • Experimental Graphical Hazardous Weather Outlook
  • Storm and Precipitation Reports
  • Outlooks
  • Submit a Storm Report
• Current Conditions
  • Local Snowfall Reports
  • Satellite
  • Local Ice Accumulation Reports
  • Snowfall Analysis
  • Observed Precipitation
  • Observations
  • Local Storm Reports
• Radar
  • Local Enhanced Radar
  • Local Standard Radar (low bandwidth)
  • Regional Standard Radar (low bandwidth)
• Forecasts
  • Experimental Probabilistic Quantitative Precipitation Forecast
  • Experimental Heat Risk
  • Fire Weather
  • Winter Weather
  • Forecast Discussion
  • Hourly Forecasts
• Rivers and Lakes
  • National Water Prediction Service (NWPS)
• Climate and Past Weather
  • NOAA Climate Service
  • Drought
  • Event Summaries
  • Local
• Local Programs
  • Publications
  • Blog
  • Severe Storms
  • Winter
  • Hydrology
  • Aviation
  • Drought - Local
  • Excessive Heat
  • Fire Weather
  • Climate - Local
  • Office Skycam
  • This Day In History
  • Mayfly Tracking

The dew point is the temperature the air needs to be cooled to (at constant pressure) in order to achieve a relative humidity (RH) of 100%. At this point the air cannot hold more water in the gas form. If the air were to be cooled even more, water vapor would have to come out of the atmosphere in the liquid form, usually as fog or precipitation.

The higher the dew point rises, the greater the amount of moisture in the air. This directly affects how "comfortable" it will feel outside. Many times, relative humidity can be misleading. For example, a temperature of 30 and a dew point of 30 will give you a relative humidity of 100%, but a temperature of 80 and a dew point of 60 produces a relative humidity of 50%. It would feel much more "humid" on the 80 degree day with 50% relative humidity than on the 30 degree day with a 100% relative humidity. This is because of the higher dew point.

So if you want a real judge of just how "dry" or "humid" it will feel outside, look at the dew point instead of the RH. The higher the dew point, the muggier it will feel.

General comfort levels USING DEW POINT that can be expected during the summer months:

• less than or equal to 55: dry and comfortable
• between 55 and 65: becoming "sticky" with muggy evenings
• greater than or equal to 65: lots of moisture in the air, becoming oppressive

ARX RSS Feed

Our Office Community Involvement Station / Location Info Follow Us On Social Media Student Opportunities

Weather Safety Weather Spotters Preparedness Weather Radio StormReady WRN Ambassadors

Additional Information Storm Summaries Cooperative Observers Educational Resources Science / Research Weather Phenomenon Mayfly Tracking

Latest Temp/Pcpn Summary Precipitation Reports Forecast Discussion Hazardous Weather Outlook Hourly Weather Public Information Statement Local Storm Report Lightning Plot Archive River Stages Water Temp Observations Precipitation Plotter Soil Temps

Decision Support Emergency Management Dispatch / Law Enforcement Schools / Universities Hwy / Street Departments Fire Weather Rivers - Quick Look

Cold Wind Chill Wind Chill Climate Winter Weather Safety

US Dept of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Weather Service La Crosse, WI 711 County Road FA La Crosse, WI 54601 608-784-7294 Comments? Questions? Please Contact Us.