Climate scientists say a warming climate is helping increase the amount of moisture the atmosphere can hold, leading to more humid days and warmer nights across the Northeast. As temperatures rise, the air is able to retain more water vapor, creating the muggy conditions that many Connecticut residents have experienced during recent summers.

Impacts on Comfort and Health

For meteorologists, humidity is often measured using the dew point, which reflects the actual amount of water vapor in the air. A dew point above 65 degrees is generally considered humid, while values above 70 degrees can feel tropical and oppressive. Recent research suggests that these uncomfortable conditions are becoming more common.

High humidity limits the evaporation of sweat, making it harder for the body to cool itself and increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses. The Northeast is particularly vulnerable because it sits between the warming Atlantic Ocean and the moist Gulf air masses that frequently surge northward during the summer. Connecticut’s coastal location already gives the state a naturally humid climate, but a warmer atmosphere means those moisture-rich air masses can hold even more water vapor than they did decades ago.

Scientists expect the trend to continue as the climate warms. NOAA projections indicate that Connecticut will likely see further increases in heat and heavy precipitation events during this century, conditions that often go hand-in-hand with higher humidity levels.

Original reporting: NBC Connecticut — read the source article.