You all must agree on one thing: humidity is a mood killer. Your skin, body, and mood feel weird in high humidity. Humidity is actually the amount of water vapor present in the air. Yes, you heard it right, water is present in the air all around you in the form of water vapor. Though people hate humidity for known reasons, it is very important for you but in moderation. Too much or too little humidity can be extremely dangerous for you. In this article, let’s get into the details about humidity and learn interesting things like- what is normal humidity outside, what is low humidity outside, etc.
1. What is Normal Humidity Outside?
Humidity is the amount of water vapors present in the air. According to IDPH, the acceptable humidity levels should range from 20% to 60% year-round. If the relative humidity is more than 60% in summer and less than 20% in winter, it should be considered unacceptable. With this figure, you must have understood the normal humidity outside. See When is Autumn in South Africa?
2. Is 40 Humidity High Outside?
Now that you are aware of the normal humidity outside, let’s find out if 40 humidity is high outside. Actually, 40 humidity isn’t that high outside. 30-50% humidity falls within the general comfort level. In summer, the ideal humidity level is 40-50% and in winter it is 30-40%. Humidity plays a crucial role in the heating and cooling of the environment. After this, let’s also learn what is low humidity outside.
3. What is Low Humidity Outside?
Low humidity occurs when there is a small amount of water vapor in the air and it results in very dry air. It occurs when the relative humidity is below 40 percent. Relative humidity defines the ratio of the current absolute humidity to the highest possible absolute humidity (depending on the current air temperature). If the reading of absolute humidity is 100 percent it means that the air is fully saturated with water vapor and cannot hold anymore. It creates a situation of rain.
In places like Arizona, the relative humidity usually ranges from 38.5% to 39.5% which means it has fairly low humidity outside. With this, you have understood what is low humidity outside. See What State has the Highest Humidity?
4. What is Considered Extremely Low Humidity?
After comprehending what is low humidity outside, let’s further learn about extremely low humidity. Low humidity occurs when the hygrometer reading goes below 40%. In such a system the body starts releasing moisture into the environment. The world has faced some extremely low humidity levels. In the USA, Nevada is the state with the lowest humidity as it has an average relative humidity of about 38.3%. But this isn’t even the worst, the world has seen some extremely low humidity scenarios over the years. In 2017, Safi-Abad Dezful, Iran, faced a relative humidity rate of 0.36%.
5. How can You Tell if Humidity is High or Low Outside?
Now that you know about extremely low humidity, let’s teach you how to tell if humidity is high or low outside. You can simply use an analog or a digital hygrometer to measure the level of humidity in the air. If the hygrometer reading is below 40%, it means that the humidity is low outside. On the other hand, if the hygrometer reading is higher than 60%, it means the humidity is high outside. Check out where is it 70 Degrees year round in The United States?
6. What does Low Humidity Feel Like?
Low humidity defines a situation when only a small amount of water vapor is present in the air. It makes the air feel very dry. In low humidity, your skin feels itchy and flaky and your eyes become dry and irritated. In low humidity, the risk of you getting flu, cold, and other infections is increased. This happens because the low humidity inflames as well as dries out the mucous membrane lining of your respiratory tract.
7. Is 20 Humidity Too Low?
What is low humidity outside? According to IDPH, the acceptable relative humidity levels generally ranging from 20 percent to 60 percent year-round are normal. If the relative humidity level in winter is less than 20% then it is unacceptable. On the other hand, the ideal in-home humidity should be around 45%, if the humidity level is under 30%, it is considered too low. Considering both these scenarios, 20 humidity isn’t too low however if the levels go below 20% that is a different story. Must read What States have the Worst Weather?
8. Can Low Humidity Make You Sick?
Absolutely, low humidity can make you feel sick. In low humidity, there are fewer water vapors present in the air and thus the air is dry. In such a condition, your eyes become dry and irritated, your throat and nasal passage are irritated, and your skin also feels itchy and flaky. Moreover, the low humidity inflames as well as dries out the mucous membrane lining your respiratory tract which makes you more vulnerable to the risk of infections like flu, cold, etc.
9. Why Humidity is Low in Winter?
During winters, the absolute humidity is the same but the relative humidity becomes lower. Relative humidity is the percentage of water vapor the air can hold at a given temperature. Thus, the humidity is low in winter causing cold hair to hold less moisture than hot air. This would have explained why humidity is low in winter. Read Why some people prefer winter over summer?
10. What is a Good Humidity Level in Winter?
After learning why humidity is low in winter, it’s also best to learn about a good humidity level in winter. A humidity level of around 30-40% should be a good level in winter as it helps avoid condensation.
11. What’s Worse Dry Heat or Humidity?
Humidity is more dangerous than high heat. To keep yourself cool, you shed excess heat through sweat and high humidity prevents your sweat from evaporating as readily. This is what makes humidity worse than dry heat. Due to the humid heat, you won’t have the opportunity to cool down. In such a situation some people can suffer from high blood pressure, elevated heart rate, organ failure, and even death. Learn What are Disadvantages of Summer Season?
12. Is Dry Air Harmful?
Yes, dry air is very harmful. It can worsen medical conditions like bronchitis, asthma, etc. It can cause sore throat, dry skin, dermatitis, eye irritation, dehydration, nosebleeds, increased stress levels, etc. Additionally, it can make you more vulnerable to infections like colds, flu, and even pneumonia.
