It is hot and humid and uncomfortable. Here is why it is. Did you know this is also called The Dog Days of Summer. All about the moisture in the air, known as dew point.

image from Mynbc5.com

      Good morning.  Waking up to a light blue sky with clouds.  You will see later what this means for the dew point of the day.  High today of 84F(29C) with a dew point of 69F(20C).  I am going to put the dew point in each time also, so we can get used to reading what that is and how comfortable or uncomfortable it will be.   I will be working on my garden planting this morning early, doing some watering to keep plants moist, and then go to the house/office to work.   Stay cool, stay safe.
 
Australia family and friends for Saturday July 26 will be rainy conditions and wind gusts up to 18 mph will make the temperature feel like 46F(7C).  Temperature should be around 60F(15C) Stay warm, stay dry, stay safe. 
 
What Is Dewpoint? The Real Reason Air Feels Hot and Sticky
Dewpoint explained!  By Catherine Boeckmann
When folks grumble about feeling uncomfortable in July, they often say, “It’s not the heat; it’s the humidity.” And sure, it’s humid—but the dewpoint is what tells you how muggy and sticky the air feels. Whether you’re tending your garden, heading out for a run, or just trying to survive a summer day, let’s break down what humidity means—and why dewpoint matters more than you might think.
As soon as you wake up in the morning, you can get a good sense of how humid it is outside—just by looking at the sky out your window. No weather apps needed. Read the sky:
Deep blue sky: This means the air is dry. You’ll often see this kind of clear, rich blue on crisp, cool days or in places with low humidity like Montana.
Light blue sky with a nearly white horizon: This shows average humidity. The air holds some moisture, but it’s nothing too sticky or uncomfortable.
Milky or hazy sky: This is a sign of very humid air, which is common in summer in places like the Carolinas and the Gulf States. That whitish haze happens because there’s so much moisture floating in the air.
What is Humidity? Stick With Me!
You know that sticky feeling on a hot summer day—when you practically peel yourself off vinyl car seats or the laundry just won’t dry on the line? That’s humidity at work. It comes from water vapor, which is invisible moisture floating around in the air.
There are a couple of ways to measure how much moisture is in the air—but let’s focus on the two most common ones:
1. Relative Humidity (What You Usually See on Weather Apps)
This is the one most people are familiar with because it shows up in your phone’s weather forecast. It’s a percentage that tells you how close the air is to being “full” of moisture.
For example:  If the relative humidity is 100%, the air is completely saturated—any more moisture, and you’ll get dew, fog, or rain.
If it’s 60%, the air is a little over halfway full.
But here’s the catch: relative humidity changes depending on the temperature. Warmer air can hold more moisture than cooler air, so the same amount of water vapor might feel humid in the morning but drier in the afternoon.
That’s why meteorologists often prefer another measurement…
2. Dewpoint (A Better Way to Tell How Humid It Feels)
While weather apps usually show relative humidity, dewpoint is actually a better way to tell how humid or muggy it feels outside.
So what is it?
The dewpoint is the temperature at which the air becomes so full of moisture that it can’t hold any more—and water starts to condense into dew, fog, or even rain. It’s measured in degrees, just like temperature.
But here’s the key difference:
Dewpoint doesn’t change just because the temperature goes up or down. It reflects the actual amount of moisture in the air. So it’s a much more reliable way to judge how humid the day really is.
Why Dewpoint Feels More Accurate
Let’s say it’s 68°F in the early morning, and the air is completely saturated. The relative humidity is 100%, and the dewpoint is also 68°F. You might see dew on the grass or fog in the air.
Later in the day, the temperature rises to 90°F. The air can now hold more moisture, so the relative humidity drops to 50%—but the dewpoint stays at 68°F, because the amount of moisture hasn’t changed.
That’s why dewpoint is the go-to measurement for meteorologists and weather nerds—it gives you the real story about how sticky or dry the air feels, no matter the time of day.
Dewpoint Comfort Levels
Here’s a quick cheat sheet to help you understand what dewpoint numbers feel like:
65°F and above: Very humid—feels sticky and heavy.
Low 60s: Somewhat humid—you might notice the moisture, but it’s manageable.
50s: Comfortable—most people feel good in this range.
40s and below: Dry and crisp—think of cool mountain air.
If you want to know whether you’ll be sweating through your shirt or enjoying a pleasant breeze, check the dewpoint, not just the temperature.
Dewpoint Can Even Predict How Cool the Night Will Be
Here’s a neat trick: the dewpoint can help you guess the lowest temperature overnight.
Air can’t cool down below the dewpoint without something big changing—like a new air mass moving in. That’s because once the air cools to the dewpoint, moisture starts to condense into dew or fog. This process releases a little bit of heat into the air, which actually slows down further cooling.
So, if the dewpoint is 60°F in the evening, chances are the overnight low will stay right around 60°F—not much lower.
This is super handy for planning:
Want to know if you’ll need a jacket by morning?
Wondering if the tomatoes will get hit with a cold snap?
Check the dewpoint. It’s not just about muggy afternoons—it’s also a quiet clue to how the night will feel.
Wrapping It Up: Know Your Dewpoint, Know Your Comfort
Now you know—it’s not just the temperature or the humidity making you sweat. It’s the dewpoint that really tells the story. By learning to read dewpoint ranges and what they mean, you’ll get a much clearer sense of what’s going on in the air around you.
Whether you’re planning a hike, working in the garden, or just trying to stay cool, keeping an eye on the dewpoint can help you stay one step ahead of those muggy summer days
Taken from https://www.almanac.com/dewpoint
Till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa [email protected]  641-794-3337  cell 641-903-9365  Beckysgreenhouse.com Facebook Becky Kerndt Litterer, or  Becky’s Greenhouse