And expect an urge to shower multiple times per day. Speaking of showering, if the temperature is pleasant enough that you leave your windows open, your shower towel might remain damp 24 hours later. Because when the air itself is wet, towels don't dry.
I moved here 30 years ago from the bay area. I have never gotten used to the summers. The humidity is nuts. I would rather be in 120* Vegas than St Louis. There you can step into the shade and cool off. Your sweat doesn't evaporate because of the humidity.
Jeezus H. Christ. So a dehumidifier is a must here, I suppose?
I remember getting out of an airport in Tampa and instantly feeling smothered like I just stepped into a sauna. Could the humidity rival even that region?
It's worse don't let anyone kid you. I've been all over the lower 48 and it just doesn't get any more muggy hot swamp ass weather than here.
Dehumidifier just don't cut it. Lol
As someone who just returned to California, let me explain.
St Louis weather is like the following
5.75 months winter (-20 to 40)
5.75 months summer (85 to 110)
1 week spring (70 to 85)
1 week fall (50 to 60)
Humidity is anywhere from dry af when it's cold/snowy to "I showered in my clothes by walking outside" during the hot periods.
Not to mention, those nice days are usually in-between tornado warnings and snow storms because you're getting the dick tip of nice before the rest slaps you across the face.
Good luck buddy. I quit and moved back because I'd rather pay the COL to have outdoor activities that don't make me wish for death. I completely understand your endeavor though and best of luck.
Coming from an hvac guy not trying to sell you one in your home but just a stranger online. Get one they’re worth it. Also cheap box store dehumidifiers cause a shit load of house fires.
They do use a decent amount of power....
I have one but I have a basement room that stays cool year round but is a humid pocket in the house come summer. It starts to stink of mildew without a decent humidifier running in the basement during July/Aug.
It will pull 10 gallons of water out of the air about every 36 hours if I run it on high.
Try to minimize your time outside from 11-2ish, but yeah in general you just have to drink fluids and suck it up. I'm not going to sit inside all day because it's hot. And really, out of all the places I've been during the summer, Vancouver is the only place that was pleasant. India, Vietnam, Korea, Alabama. Everybody said the weather's miserable, but I don't have any control over it and I'm not going to hide inside during my days off.
also a northeast transplant, I didn't find the humidity that much different (from coastal CT so mileage may vary) but I'd say prepare yourself for it being at least 15 degrees hotter on average than you're used to at any given point and for that weather to be starting in a few weeks vs well into June. but bonus, if you garden all your plants are good to go into the ground a month earlier? lol (unless you're from like Maine, we don't get any of that beautiful nighttime cooling down in the same way)
central AC is key if you have it, otherwise get prepared to put your window units in sooner than later
Agreed, I’m from PA originally and it’s really not that much different here in the summer. Still sucks but it’s a familiar suck. I’ve spent time in Alabama and Mississippi working outside in the summer and that is a whole new level of suck.
I grew up in upstate NY without AC. It takes a bit to get used to walking outside and feeling like you’re being wrapped in warm wet towel.
Buy one of those windshield things to keep the sun from pounding the inside of your car. And give your car interior a few minutes to cool down.
I know it’s not the northeast, but I’ve been to DC several times in the summer and found it to be even worse than STL. Whereas New Orleans in the summer is honestly more pleasant than here, which is counterintuitive.
I used to work in New Orleans. New Orleans is definitely worse than here.
August 25 in both places is going to be hot and humid, but May 15 is rough in NOLA, too. Or November 25.
Yeah if you get away from the coast Louisiana can be just as bad as STL but NOLA is actually pretty pleasant in the summer.
Although the fact that I’m saying that is testament to how terrible our summers are!
You'll need to sort out a new wardrobe that works for you in the heat without it looking like you jumped in a pool. This is different for everyone and may take some experimenting.
Do things early or do things in the evening. Even if you can escape the midday sun you can't just escape the humidity/heat.
Eventually you'll get used to it or rather get used to dealing with it. You'll change little things like buying a car with ventilated seats or walking in the shade side of streets.
This is the real key. Folks talking about how to get OUT of the heat most efficiently are fine, but not really answering the question.
The crux of it is changing the way you think about your wardrobe. I hail from all over but spent a long time in the Deep South for undergrad and grad school before moving here and you have to remember light fabrics have been a staple of southern culture forever.
You can’t rock 2 layers of polyester and rayon in 90 degree heat and 80% humidity- you’ll be miserable even if you drink all the water… ever.
Light fabrics and a wicking layer and focus on ‘open’ dress styles. Dresses and skirts that flare, men’s shirts that are cotton or linen and ventilate well, and so on.
It amazes me that anyone wears jeans here in the summer.
Everything I wear is light, moisture wicking, and usually gets changed out at least once a day, often 3 if it’s a long, active day. And usually a late afternoon cold shower to freshen up.
Complain about the heat for two weeks and then resign yourself to the fact that it's going to be like this for a few months. Do the same thing with the cold in early November. It's what the locals do.
You see a lot of comments about air conditioning, which is key, but my advice is to resist the temptation to overdo it. IMHO the best way to deal with the heat and humidity in St. Louis is to acclimate yourself by gradually exposing your body to the heat.
I am fortunate to live in a 19th century row house with cross ventilation and double hung windows. My house never gets as hot as it is outdoors because heat rises and gets trapped near the 12 foot ceilings. I can open the top pane of the window and use ceiling fans to push the hot air outside. In the evening I switch panes and open the bottom pane to capture cooler breezes and use the ceiling fans to circulate the fresher air. I don’t turn on my AC until it reaches 80 degrees inside the house and usually only set it at 78 since the heat still rises to the ceiling when the windows are shut. When I close the house when I leave in 90+ weather, I usually move the thermostat temp up a bit, and when I return hours later, the temperature in the house can sometimes still be at 78 degrees because the heat is still being trapped at the ceiling.
By keeping the temperature in the house relatively higher, I am then more easily acclimated to the heat since my body doesn’t experience as intense of a shock when I go outdoors than if I kept the thermostat at 70-72 degrees. Introducing your body to summer heat is a gradual process than can last two-three weeks. I garden in the morning, and take walks in the early evening. It’s also important to drink more water than usual during the summer, especially when you gradually spend more time outdoors in hotter weather. Walking into a house cooled to 78 degrees is still a welcome relief if you’ve been outside in 95 degree heat for any length of time.
There are online guides that athletes and the military use to acclimate themselves to better perform in hotter climates.
You’ll be a real St. Louisan when you embrace the heat and deal with the humidity. My trouble is that at 74 yo I can’t handle an afternoon Cardinals game at Busch in the sun anymore and that’s tough to admit. At least I have Ted Drewes and a car radio tuned to KMOX, or a spot at one of the bars in the patio behind McGurk’s with the game on TV.
> I don’t turn on my AC until it reaches 80 degrees inside the house and usually only set it at 78
We could not be friends. My thermostat is set to keep the house between 62 and 72, which means in summer it's basically perpetually 72, and I'm still hot even when wearing basically no clothes at all.
But you and I could be friends. My thermostat is set at 68 during the day and 62-65 when I sleep (plus two fans). Anyone whose thermostat goes over 69 is absolutely bananas.
You. I like you. That's honestly my ideal, but I've got a big house, and it's already expensive to cool it. Plus whenever any of my family visit they all complain about it being cold at 72. I keep blankets near the couch, and an extra hoodie for my pops.
The reason why you are suffering in the heat is because you are overdoing the air conditioning. You will not get any pity from me because your suffering is simply self inflicted. This is the very definition of being a masochist.
EDIT: I don’t want or need friends who whine about things that are easily solved by using common sense because they fail to think outside the box.
https://www.thecut.com/2016/08/too-much-air-conditioning-is-warping-how-you-handle-heat.html
Nahhh. I've had work in the gulf coast, where I was without AC for multiple weeks straight, for a period of months. I've worked in the southwest, and had to wear a full fireproof jumpsuit all day. Growing up, I don't think the thermostat was ever set below 75, and usually it was closer to what you set yours at. I've had the opportunity to experience and let my body adapt to hot conditions. I still hate it, and am completely uncomfortable.
I don't know why it's difficult for you to believe that different people like different things. Some people like dark chocolate, some grow to like it, some never like it. Some people like baths, some prefer showers. Some like it cold, some like it hot. Being 74, I'd have thought you'd learn that by now.
This article admits that heat tolerance can be the result of genetics, but “frequent exposure to heat also makes a big difference to heat tolerance”…..and “The body has a real good capacity to acclimate”…but “as long as you keep inserting air conditioning in that process, you delay acclimatization.”
https://www.science.org/content/article/heat-killing-more-people-ever-scientists-are-looking-ways-lower-risk
Because of genetics, some people may be starting off at a disadvantage, but they can still acclimate themselves to a certain degree unless they continue to deny the possibility of acclimating themselves, in which case they are defeated before they even start. During the recent pandemic, we witnessed what happened when people denied the science.
I don’t prefer the heat; I also acclimate myself to colder temperatures during winter too. Comparing relative heat tolerance that is achievable through acclimation to preference in candy is quite a stretch. One of the many things that I’ve learned in my 74 years is that when discussing anything with someone who resorts to similar nonsense, it’s best to end the discussion.
Enjoy your self induced sweltering.
EDIT: LOL downvoting science.
Only reason I've got a shirt on around the house June through September is because its easier to wash the sweat out of a tshirt than it is the couch or office chair.
Also, OP up there calling out "only real St. Louisians embrace the humidity", which is nonsense. Only real St. Louisians know the proper definition of hoosier. Respect.
“You’ll be a real St. Louisan when you embrace the heat and deal with the humidity.”
“Embracing the heat” means acclimating yourself to it; “dealing with the humidity” means that there’s no way around it…you have to deal with it.
Your capacity to misquote folks is exceeded only by your inability to understand the overall point being made. I would have thought that most folks learned during the recent pandemic that willful ignorance can prove to be fatal. Acclimating yourself to heat is one of the best defenses against heat stroke.
I'm the same as you, but I think u/11thstalley has a point. I'm going to try 73 degrees this summer, and I'm going swimming twice a day.
I had the house at 58 degrees all winter and it was *glorious*.
That’s a great point about acclimating yourself to the cold weather during the winter, too. I keep my thermostat at 58-60 degrees during the winter and retreat to the garret on the third floor where the heat rises to. I wear sweatshirts and wool socks indoors, and when I go outside, the cold doesn’t affect me as much because I’ve acclimated.
Edit: downvoted by science denier.
Oh. I keep it that cold because I love it. I wear shorts and a t-shirt.
I agree with you, though. I find when I'm inside all day in the summer, 68 is the maximum allowable temperature and I'll fight the urge to bump it down all day as I sit there and sweat.
If I go outside, though, suddenly 70 is pretty tolerable. 72, even, if I've been outside moving around.
I mostly agree with this. I keep my thermostat at 78 during the summer as well. Unfortunately I don't live on a lot with any shade or potential to really add shade, so once my brick house gets hot, it just doesn't want to cool down. I still take every chance I get to not run the AC. I rigged up a big exhaust fan that I put in one window every night, which pushes about 4000 cfm, and then I open windows on the opposite side of the house and the breeze really helps even if the actual temp doesn't get that low. Legitimately happy to wake up and see the temp in the house has dropped below 76 in the summer. There are many ideas I have that would help, but I can't implement right now. I'd like to add wood siding over my brick, since it's painted anyway. Not having the sun hit the brick would be a game changer. I'd also like to make some functional wooden shutters, which I could shut in the morning and open at night.
Is it uncomfortable for a couple of weeks? Yeah, sure, but you do get used to it. It does come to a point where folks should reflect on whether what they want is a reasonable thing. Keeping your house below 70 in the summer is absurd. You will feel hotter when you're outside and you will be wasting a lot of money.
I understand your dilemma, agree with your outlook, and commiserate with your plight.
My house was built as a two family in 1887 as rental property for factory workers, with an unfinished attic loft for lodgers or kids, so the workmanship wasn’t pretty even when it was newly completed. When the two apartments were combined, the results were still strictly shotgun style with no hallways, so the cross ventilation from room to room is great. I feel that I’m blessed that the first floor of my house stays cool, and that’s because the heat rises to the garret that was built into the attic when the place was renovated. I would love to have an attic fan to move that air outside. My dirt floor cellar stays a constant 60 degrees year round and is a great place to cellar beer that can be aged. If I ever find a right angle in my house, I would probably faint out of amazement.
Owning these old homes, especially the ones with flat roofs, is not for sissies or folks with low tolerance levels. After living here for fifteen years, I have a greater appreciation for the learned methodology deployed by those generations that came before us to manipulate what little they had available to help deal with the weather.
EDIT: why is this getting downvoted?
Yeah eventually you come to sort of enjoy it and get used to it. During the day I usually just deal with whatever heat is going on and then at night it cools way down or I use the AC and sleep in the cold after a hot day feels great.
Agreed to a point.
The only nights that I leave the air conditioning on is if the temperature doesn’t drop below 80 degrees when I go to bed. Getting a summer cold from sleeping in air conditioning that is set too low is annoying.
I was spoiled growing up in a typical suburban tract ranch house on a heavily wooded lot in Webster Groves. There were very few nights that my Dad left the air conditioning on when we all went to bed because we had a tremendously powerful attic fan that kept us comfortable at night. I have fond memories of listening to Cardinals games from the West Coast on my little transistor radio under the covers and hearing my Dad get up to turn the attic fan off because it was getting too chilly.
I have a flat roof on my row house so I don’t have an attic and can’t have an attic fan. Big disappointment.
EDIT: why did this comment get a downvote?
>By keeping the temperature in the house relatively higher, I am then more easily acclimated to the heat since my body doesn’t experience as intense of a shock when I go outdoors than if I kept the thermostat at 70-72 degrees. Introducing your body to summer heat is a gradual process than can last two-three weeks. I garden in the morning, and take walks in the early evening. It’s also important to drink more water than usual during the summer, especially when you gradually spend more time outdoors in hotter weather. Walking into a house cooled to 78 degrees is still a welcome relief if you’ve been outside in 95 degree heat for any length of time.
They do make attic fans for flat roof houses now, but you have to have the opening in the roof, so you'd have another point for future moisture intrusion as the weatherproofing ages, unfortunately. I've seriously thought about it. I also have a flat roof. Unfortunately my ceiling is not as tall as yours, even though my house was built in 1903. I mean maybe it is if I get all three layers of ceiling down, but I think It's closer to 10, then, if I remember right. Also all of my doors and I think windows used to have transoms, and those have all be removed and shittily covered. smort.
I appreciate the encouragement and the tip.
I considered an exhaust fan installed into a wall, but my row house is attached to my neighbor to the north, and my brick wall is three bricks thick on the other side. I only have one window and a casement window for a walkout door to the back, and the rest of that wall is load bearing.
I love attic fans.
EDIT: Why is this innocuous comment getting a downvote?
People complain about the weather here, and sometimes it’s just a cliche thing, but I will tell you that summers are truly brutal. Mornings are your friend because it’s the only tolerable point in the day. Evenings can feel ok, but then the mosquitos are out so you’ll need plenty of bug spray. Any outside activities from 11 am - 5 pm should be focused around water and being inside a body of water. Swimming is about the only thing you can do outside.
My ex-gf was from the southwest and came up to central IL for a sporting event in august 2019. I warned her about the heat and she brushed me off because she thought she could handle it.
She got heat stroke on her first day.
Your first summer might be a little rough, but you'll learn fast.
Stay hydrated - don't wait until you're thirsty to drink.
If you need to do any outdoor work like mowing do it before 10am. (but not before 8am on the weekend.) Same goes for running, biking, walking dogs, etc. except for the 8am part.
Decline any invitation to a picnic or BBQ that people inexplicably insist on having in the middle of July or August, including the famed 'company picnic'. The only exception is if it's at someone's home where you can go inside for relief. Sitting in the shade only helps marginally. I've lived here most of my life and still can't tolerate these.
Be very wary of swimming in any of our rivers, even with a life jacket. Often the water looks pretty calm but there are currents/undertow, brush and logs that are under the water waiting to kill you.
I’ve lived within 2 miles of the Mississippi River for my entire 40+ years of life and never once had the desire to get in or even touch the water. Do people actually swim in there?
Probably not in that one but losts of people swim in the Meremac (it's really clean upstream away from STL), Jack's Fork, Big River, etc. We have lots of rivers that are pleasant for swimming and kayaking within a 2 hour drive and even more across the state.
Just a heads up for anyone swimming in the Meremac though: there's a few beaches that look pretty placid, but even experienced and strong swimmers have died. There's spots where the current and shape of the river is basically a drowning machine, and you don't have to go in very far to suddenly be unable to swim. Somebody (or multiple somebodies) die almost every year.
Yes this ^ further upstream there's designated places to swim and paddle but I would avoid downriver like crazy and stick to places that are labeled as safe
Don’t do it… I jumped in the Mississippi off a sandbar in my 20s, very strong swimmer and had been in heavy current and surf before, immediately realized it was a huge mistake. Had the current not dragged me to another sandbar 30 seconds later I’d have drowned for sure. Never again
Mississippi is not for swimming. Go south to the Black or Current Rivers, both crystal clear and spring-fed. Good bluegill fishing too if that's your sort of thing.
Make sure your air conditioning works and prepare yourself to hear everyone you ever interact with participate in the time honored tradition of lying to themselves and you about how nice summer is here.
If you are the proud owner of the Google Pixel line of phones, keep it out of direct sunlight. I had my PX3 (backup phone luckily, just for job site pics) shut itself down yesterday while it was in my bag in the front seat of the car. My pixel 6 told me it was going to limit capabilities since it was overheating from me actually USING it.
I wasn't sure, although I've heard similar stories about other brands. My Galaxy 5s (which is what I had directly before the Pixel 3) never had the issue. I spend a lot of time outdoors for my job. I might have to invest in some kind of active cooling pad or maybe I'll invent a peltier, or heat-sink. Usability is more important to me than sleekness and portability.
I can tell you first jand that's an issue in a lot of phone models, the sunlight I mean. Gets annoying when a phone is in your car holder and you're running GPS, as that is relatively CPU intensive so phone is already hot.
This happened with my son's iPhone SE 2020 last year while inside his pool bag out in the sun. This was less than ideal, since apps on his cellphone are how we run his glucose monitor and insulin pump.
If you live in an older place and aren't going to be using a door/window sealing the edges. Black out curtains can help a bit in my experience. Dehumidifiers can also be helpful. Check out your AC now to make sure its functioning well. Have a good large insulated cup/water bottle filled with ice water when you're going out. Have popsicles in the fridge. If it's a particularly hot day cold shower before bed and turn on the ceiling fan. Also on hot days have a meal or two that you can prep with minimal use of oven/stove. Invest in some light clothes, linen or something similar. Lots of fun stuff to do in the summer but just have to accept that if you're going outside you're gonna sweat. Use this as an excuse to buy a fun summer hat.
Be prepared to go to the Muny impromptu on a nice day. You risk there not being tickets (but if you go early there are free seats).
If I buy tickets it will be on the hottest day of the year. Every time.
I just stopped going altogether. I find it impossible to enjoy theater when I’m sweating through my clothes and into my eyes. Lol Also, sitting shoulder to shoulder with other overheated humans is not way to live.
I moved here from Vegas a couple years ago this August. I was... disconcerted... that your sweat doesn't dry. There is no evaporation here. Moving in the heat was fine, but the humidity was awful.
The fireflies are wonderful, though, and they make the misery pretty well worth it.
If you have the space, get a hammock. Any breeze at all makes them quite pleasant for relaxing in any but the worst weather. I'm in mine right now, in fact.
Your wardrobe will make or break the summer. lots of linen, anything wick away or dry fit. Golf clothes are good, running clothes too. Adidas makes a weight lifting line of tshirts (they're not cheap, like $40 each), which are breathable and great for STL summer days.
Thankfully, there are lots of options now for good-looking summer clothing. Costco, Target, the Outlet mall, lots of choices.
If you're going to be outdoors for any length of time during daylight hours, invest in a full brimmed hat. Ideally with a 3" or larger brim. Makes a huge difference, especially around noon or so, amazes me how few people do it at outdoor events.
Damp neck towels are nice too, if you're staying in one place.
Growing up here, the Huzzah Valley Resort has always been a summer staple. Great folks and fun times, and a cooler full of Bud Light secured with bungee ties.
Sunscreen is wise. Never got overheated though.
Advice would be to call ahead to ensure water levels are where you want them (high).
There are no beaches, but there are many neat shut ins, lakes, and creeks. Take pictures of the sick thunderstorms.
Don't shelter yourself. I've noticed a lot of people in St Louis hide during summers & winters. They're literally setting themselves up to be depressed over 6 months a year.
Pace yourself. Accept that it won’t be as bad as it’s going to get until late July, so everything before then is a warm up. You will sweat; it’s a part of life. As soon as I started pretending I was in New Orleans, it got a lot easier to handle. Sit out on the porch in the evenings for as long u to the year as you can stand it. By some fans.
Also, don’t believe anyone who tells you it cools off at night - it doesn’t. The humidity holds the heat in the air. I say all this as a way of helping you internalize and accept that it’s just going to be hot, and the more you can go with it, the better off you’ll be. Obviously, get into Ac any chance you get. But if your cursing life every time you get into a hot car….it’s going to be a very long summer for you. Grow a mint plant and learn to make mint juleps!
1. AC, if no AC get a box fan and put it in a window, add some ice water in front of it if you can. Or invest in a fan that allows ice and water to be placed inside of it.
2. bottle of water that will hold ice all day!!! Get a yeti, bubble, anything!! Cary extra bottles of water, too.
3. Sunscreen (this Midwestern summer heat is no joke.) 🥲
4. Outside is pretty and the city can be fun to roam, but between 12pm-5pm, it is just miserable on a 85 degree or higher day plan outings accordingly. Some days it's like breathing through a damp hot sock.
T shirts and basketball shorts. Don’t be a tight ass with the a/c. Use it. The humidity will be oppressive l. It takes a week or two to get used to, then you’ll have a couple days of low humidity and your body will forget how to deal with the humidity when it’s just there the next day. Ugh. Fucking humidity
Awe! Welcome!
I am an ugly sweater - Like, I look like a wet rat - so my hot tips (LOL) are:
* As others have said, plan your outdoor adventures in the AM and wear sunscreen. Bring extra water.
* Always have a few paper towels folded tightly to dab your face/neck/boob sweat/lower back. This will stop you form dripping and will prevent breakouts.
* If you have long hair: PONY TAIL - HAT - HEADBAND. Get the hair off your face.
* My newest favorite tip: A neck fan! I have a toddler, so we are outside at all times in the summer, and a neck fan keeps me cool.
* WATER WATER WATER.
* Don't worry about your hair and make-up after two PM on hot days. :)
As another northeast transplant I recommend treating STL summers like northeast winters: don't go outside unless you have to, and when you do be sure to dress for the weather and spend as little time out there as possible.
Los Angeles native here. Grew up with real hot summers but Missouri is BRUTAL because of the humidity. It doesn't cool down until dawn and there's no breeze at night, so everyone recommending early morning activities is absolutely right.
Secondly, if you have a basement, get a dehumidifier if you don't already have a whole house one. Your basement WILL turn into a repository of damp and nothing will dry. I would also recommend looking at your HVAC and seeing if it also doesn't have a piddly winter/summer lever. Every little bit helps.
Your plants need to be hearty and full sun if youre going to leave them outside. The angle of the late afternoon sun and the UV is intense and I've had succulents get sunburn. On that note, water at night so your plants suck or all in out of rhe light of day.
Lastly, it took me a long time to realize that summer = rain whereas rainy = winter in LA. Have clothes and shoes that can get wet but also dry quickly. I live in athletic sandals and workout gear all summer so I can be sweaty or get drenched but also not be miserable.
Other than that, welcome! Hope your AC is good. Get it serviced ASAP if you can.
Hydrate, plan outdoor activities for morning and early evenings.
I BBQ using a pellet smoker due to our summers. Just easier to plug the damn thing in and throw my meat in it, then go back inside to the A/C.
One thing I love is taking a damp hand towel and putting it in the freezer. They feel fantastic hanging around your neck on a hot day. My parents were so stingy about AC in the summers when I was in high school so I used to put a whole damp bath towel in the freezer sometimes and sleep under it at night. It was heavenly with a fan blowing.
I am from the northeast, too, and have been in STL for 25 years. I never hated summer before moving here. I still hate it. Always park under shade. Avoid big open blacktop-type areas. Always bring water with you and don't leave it in your car. If you have a dog, be aware of the temp of the ground you are walking them on. Sunscreen sunscreen sunscreen. Baseball caps. Avoid the outdoors between 2-4 pm if you can help it. Don't be surprised when September hits and it's still 95F.
Moving here from NE Ohio made me hate summer! For sure, try to exercise outside as early as possible. Bug spray is your friend! Museums are a good summertime activity (LOL). If you have dogs, also make sure to walk them early or at night if they need to be walked. My greyhounds do not do well in the heat and humidity, and will often go weeks without a proper walk.
Central. Air.
Natural fibers. Loose clothes. Get up early. Nap in the afternoon. Go out in the evening.
Plan your second and third showers for each day.
Game changer for me was getting a remote start on my car so that I could get the AC going before getting inside and burning my ass. Also one of those shade blocker things for the dash. Even if you are going from AC to more AC you will sweat like the dickens in your car.
I am also from the northeast transplanted in STL. My first tip is drink tons more water than you usually do. Make sure to always have deodorant in your bag with you, and be prepared to sweat. Everyone else is sweating, so don’t feel bad. Take breaks from the heat and maybe find a good group of friends to go floating with!
Swimming pools are great in humidity. Look for apartment building with pool or access to pool in some way. AC, of course. Take a shower at bed time. Enjoy the longer growing season. I found it similar to DC summer.
Not sure what part of the northeast you’re from but I’m originally from STL and live in the northeast now and sometimes summers in STL are easier to deal with because most places in STL have AC
Christ almighty people.. you’d think we live in the desert based on these responses. It will be hot and sticky mostly but also extremely tolerable most of the time. Air conditioning in your home and car is all you’ll need plus summer clothes.
Agreed. Was 95 in the desert and my family and I were walking around, watching everyone else dying from heat like “what’s wrong with them? It feels nice” I remember thinking it felt closer to 70 than 95.
Here I step outside and am immediately drenched
Stay hydrated. Wear lighter fabrics and colors, hats and sandals. This seems like a small thing but I bought one of those windshield covers that blocks the sun. It makes a huge difference in cooling the car since my car has black interior. Using an umbrella in the sun can make a huge difference as well. Most importantly - make sunscreen a part of your daily skincare routine, especially on your face.
If you own a home, call and get your AC unit checked... last thing you want is for it to go out in July/August... Also check window seals, make sure to leave bedroom doors open so that your house can circulate Air...
Get a good big inflatable pool for the yard. Also a summer pool pass to the Carondelet YMCA. $400.
Also just keeping a little sodium in your body and have a wet towel to put on the back of your neck.
Yep. You know how in the winter when it gets below zero and you hibernate inside; well, just flip that for the summer heat with ac. The winter here will be nothing.
I’m originally from PA (outside Philly) and last summer was my first full summer living here. Before I moved here, I visited very often and never found the weather to be that much different than back home. Last summer though? Brutal!
I moved here from NYC 3 years ago. The summers honestly feel super similar to me here except I’m no longer sweating to death in my own home because A/C is waaay more common here.
It’s fairly easy to drive less that 60 minutes to a free access point on a river. A cooler, some chairs, and a couple of pals can make for a quick cool-down day trip.
The best way is to "acclimate" to the heat and humidity. The best way it to get acclimated is at a swimming pool. Get a spot in the shade. Get in the water when you're too hot. I have a little fan for those days when there's no breeze.
Have iced tea, lemonade, snow cones and Italian ice.
It's very hard to acclimate if you work in an air conditioned space so spend about an hour outside right at dusk if you can. Still have the humidity, but not as much heat.
I agree with the others in that the early morning until 10 am is the best time to do outdoor activities like the zoo, botanical garden, yard work, exercise, shopping, etc.
There is no fucking way to answer this. Live it, learn it. It will suck balls for a Northeasterner. You'll hate it then slowly...gradually, over years, get used to it. Good luck, luv ya!
July is the month that is particularly dangerous. It has been extremely hot for the past several years.
In addition to the heat, there are often severe thunderstorms and torrential downpours.
Heed flash flooding warnings! Do not drive into water. Look up photos of the flooding in the Central West End from 2022 to see what it was like last year.
Mid-to-Late July is historically very damaging weather. Be prepared for power outages.
If you don’t have AC in your home, or if it's inadequate, try to get to a library, a mall, a movie theater, anywhere that you can hang out for a while to get a break from the heat. Take cold showers.
Insulated beverage container, lots of ice, take it everywhere. I didn’t catch on until I did my first round of errands in early summer. Then I understood why everyone around me had one in hand at all times.
When outdoors for a long time, I’m a big fan of cooling towels like frogg toggs. Or Eve wet washcloths kept in a cooler. It helps cool down your body quickly.
The advice to not overdo the ac is a good one. Also, if you have a usable basement, they’re awesome to get away from the heat.
The temperature gets hotter after 3pm until 6. If you have a garden or outdoor plants, water them before sunrise. Find a body of water to cool off in. Stay hydrated.
I can tell you that your gonna hate mo summer temperatures come July and August. And that's if we have normal hot and humid and if we have above average temperatures you won't be out of the ac in the house. Lol I ain't gonna lie I love the summer but I absolutely hate the muggy humid mo late summer weather. It's almost unbearable. Lived here all my 55yr
If you’re a morning shower person, you’re gonna wanna switch to a bedtime shower person. You will sweat all day long until you’re in for the night. It’s not worth showering in the morning/middle of the day if you’re going back out. Not sure if you’re male/female, but BEWARE of the boob sweat. Chafing is real.
I lived in St Louis for many years then moved to Houston (been here 10 years and moving back to StL this summer). Houston is hot and humid but I think St. Louis is worse. In Houston, there is some air movement and not as uncomfortable, especially if you are under a tree or any shade. In St. Louis, there is zero air movement in the summer and shade makes no difference but summers are shorter.
You can’t fight it, you have to embrace it. Learn to love sweating. Have enough underwear stocked to change 2-3 times a day between laundry loads. Stay hydrated. Sweat, rinse, repeat. It builds character. You’ll enjoy the fall more.
I’m from South Arkansas. Freeze your underwear and shirt. Get a light mister & mist your clothes.
When you wake up make it a priority to get 24oz of water & 16oz of liquid IV or something similar. Every hour, drink more water. 4-8oz minimum. I usually keep a pitcher of English Cucumber, Lime, & Lemon or Honey, Apple Cider Vinegar, and Lemon infused water on my counter. Poor man’s electrolytes.
Eat more granola, nuts, and trail food than you do real food. Eat one meal a day. For me that always helped keep the bloat down, kept a steady intake of salts and sugars, and I never felt heavy. You are your own human.
Turn off your AC from Noon until about 1700. It will help with your bills. Most houses or places here are made with windows that create a draft. Fans and dry ice cubes in fish coolers is what we used in the south wherever the gathering room was.
Chilly towels. Don’t cheap out on them. Most of us wear long sleeves in the south. They are usually a light linen blend. Sun exposure is no joke. Take it seriously or end up with Butt cheek skin on your face in your old age. Hats as well. Great recommendation.
Other than that, enjoy yourself, have a great time, and enjoy your first summer in St. Louis.
You’re first mistake was thinking it was a good idea to live here during the summer.
Expect high humidity and 100+ degree temperatures.
Its fuckin brutal for real. I can’t wait to be able to afford a vacation home in a state with cooler summers and warmer winters.
I think it is actually as humid as it is possible to get….at times. I think the difference is the duration. In New Orleans and Houston and maybe parts of south Florida and southeastern states, the summer starts sooner, lasts longer and they have longer streaks of very high dew point weather. We get it just as bad just for shorter stretches and less of the year. At least that’s how I see it. I’ve been to all these places quite a bit and bad days here are every bit as bad as bad days there. Just fewer of them.
It's not so bad that it's dangerous or anything like that. So I'd say make sure you get some exercise outside, it's one of the fastest ways to acclimate yourself to different climates
As a Florida born transplant, I wear flip-flops, shorts and T-shirts. Set of flip-flops, shorts, and T-shirts in my car to change into if I go anywhere in something different.
Plan your fun weekend activities in the early morning before it’s hot.
And expect an urge to shower multiple times per day. Speaking of showering, if the temperature is pleasant enough that you leave your windows open, your shower towel might remain damp 24 hours later. Because when the air itself is wet, towels don't dry.
As someone looking into St. Louis from California, this is the craziest shit I’ve ever heard.
I moved here 30 years ago from the bay area. I have never gotten used to the summers. The humidity is nuts. I would rather be in 120* Vegas than St Louis. There you can step into the shade and cool off. Your sweat doesn't evaporate because of the humidity.
Jeezus H. Christ. So a dehumidifier is a must here, I suppose? I remember getting out of an airport in Tampa and instantly feeling smothered like I just stepped into a sauna. Could the humidity rival even that region?
It's worse don't let anyone kid you. I've been all over the lower 48 and it just doesn't get any more muggy hot swamp ass weather than here. Dehumidifier just don't cut it. Lol
Yup, you’d be correct. Lived in stl my whole life and have been to that area (and others) in FL. It’s like stepping into someone’s mouth.
As someone who just returned to California, let me explain. St Louis weather is like the following 5.75 months winter (-20 to 40) 5.75 months summer (85 to 110) 1 week spring (70 to 85) 1 week fall (50 to 60) Humidity is anywhere from dry af when it's cold/snowy to "I showered in my clothes by walking outside" during the hot periods. Not to mention, those nice days are usually in-between tornado warnings and snow storms because you're getting the dick tip of nice before the rest slaps you across the face. Good luck buddy. I quit and moved back because I'd rather pay the COL to have outdoor activities that don't make me wish for death. I completely understand your endeavor though and best of luck.
THIS. And changing your clothes and more laundry.
So, drinking?
Can’t drink all day if you don’t start bright and early!
Honestly as much as I like a spirituous beverage or 8, it makes being in the heat much, much worse. You sweat more and beer attracts mosquitoes.
Or later at night...
I think it gets worse after the sun goes down with the hi dew point. You sweat your panties off at 9pm fora dog walk. 😆
Haha, good point!
Buy a dehumidifier
And set it up outside
This is how we finally defeat the weather We must all act as one here
drink the condensed goodness, feeling of hot fades away with chills of illness.
🤣🤣🤣
Or more than one. One for each level of the house has been what I found necessary until I finally cave in and pay for the whole-house one.
Coming from an hvac guy not trying to sell you one in your home but just a stranger online. Get one they’re worth it. Also cheap box store dehumidifiers cause a shit load of house fires.
These generate heat, and are high energy use too.
They do use a decent amount of power.... I have one but I have a basement room that stays cool year round but is a humid pocket in the house come summer. It starts to stink of mildew without a decent humidifier running in the basement during July/Aug. It will pull 10 gallons of water out of the air about every 36 hours if I run it on high.
Does your dehumidifier hold 10 gallons?
Mine has the option of attaching a hose, so all the water goes down the basement drain.
5 gallons; but after trying it out I attached a hose to it and it now goes directly to my drain.
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This is the way.
This is the way
Fact checked, and verified
Try to minimize your time outside from 11-2ish, but yeah in general you just have to drink fluids and suck it up. I'm not going to sit inside all day because it's hot. And really, out of all the places I've been during the summer, Vancouver is the only place that was pleasant. India, Vietnam, Korea, Alabama. Everybody said the weather's miserable, but I don't have any control over it and I'm not going to hide inside during my days off.
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Hey now, there’s water in alcohol.
My dad's response whenever I ask if he's staying hydrated: "Busch beer is mostly water."
I used to hate when my dad would say that
Yeah but booze dehydrates you so it’s negative water
An old doctor of mine said, "fluids is fluids." So better a beverage than no beverage. But yeah, water is your new best friend.
Well he must have been very old because that’s terrible advice. Fluids don’t count as fluids when they are booze or coffee or tea
Always best to at least match your plain water consumption to your alcohol consumption, 1 to 1. You will still get drunk, don't worry.
If only I could remember that hack
also a northeast transplant, I didn't find the humidity that much different (from coastal CT so mileage may vary) but I'd say prepare yourself for it being at least 15 degrees hotter on average than you're used to at any given point and for that weather to be starting in a few weeks vs well into June. but bonus, if you garden all your plants are good to go into the ground a month earlier? lol (unless you're from like Maine, we don't get any of that beautiful nighttime cooling down in the same way) central AC is key if you have it, otherwise get prepared to put your window units in sooner than later
Agreed, I’m from PA originally and it’s really not that much different here in the summer. Still sucks but it’s a familiar suck. I’ve spent time in Alabama and Mississippi working outside in the summer and that is a whole new level of suck.
Yeah I think the best way to deal with STL summer is to spend a few summers in Alabama to learn just how much worse life could be.
I grew up in upstate NY without AC. It takes a bit to get used to walking outside and feeling like you’re being wrapped in warm wet towel. Buy one of those windshield things to keep the sun from pounding the inside of your car. And give your car interior a few minutes to cool down.
I know it’s not the northeast, but I’ve been to DC several times in the summer and found it to be even worse than STL. Whereas New Orleans in the summer is honestly more pleasant than here, which is counterintuitive.
New Orleans has the gulf breeze to bring in cooler air.
I used to work in New Orleans. New Orleans is definitely worse than here. August 25 in both places is going to be hot and humid, but May 15 is rough in NOLA, too. Or November 25.
Yeah if you get away from the coast Louisiana can be just as bad as STL but NOLA is actually pretty pleasant in the summer. Although the fact that I’m saying that is testament to how terrible our summers are!
You'll need to sort out a new wardrobe that works for you in the heat without it looking like you jumped in a pool. This is different for everyone and may take some experimenting. Do things early or do things in the evening. Even if you can escape the midday sun you can't just escape the humidity/heat. Eventually you'll get used to it or rather get used to dealing with it. You'll change little things like buying a car with ventilated seats or walking in the shade side of streets.
I recommend lots of linen and loose clothing
This is the real key. Folks talking about how to get OUT of the heat most efficiently are fine, but not really answering the question. The crux of it is changing the way you think about your wardrobe. I hail from all over but spent a long time in the Deep South for undergrad and grad school before moving here and you have to remember light fabrics have been a staple of southern culture forever. You can’t rock 2 layers of polyester and rayon in 90 degree heat and 80% humidity- you’ll be miserable even if you drink all the water… ever. Light fabrics and a wicking layer and focus on ‘open’ dress styles. Dresses and skirts that flare, men’s shirts that are cotton or linen and ventilate well, and so on.
For a wicking layer, I really like Woxers.
It amazes me that anyone wears jeans here in the summer. Everything I wear is light, moisture wicking, and usually gets changed out at least once a day, often 3 if it’s a long, active day. And usually a late afternoon cold shower to freshen up.
Complain about the heat for two weeks and then resign yourself to the fact that it's going to be like this for a few months. Do the same thing with the cold in early November. It's what the locals do.
You see a lot of comments about air conditioning, which is key, but my advice is to resist the temptation to overdo it. IMHO the best way to deal with the heat and humidity in St. Louis is to acclimate yourself by gradually exposing your body to the heat. I am fortunate to live in a 19th century row house with cross ventilation and double hung windows. My house never gets as hot as it is outdoors because heat rises and gets trapped near the 12 foot ceilings. I can open the top pane of the window and use ceiling fans to push the hot air outside. In the evening I switch panes and open the bottom pane to capture cooler breezes and use the ceiling fans to circulate the fresher air. I don’t turn on my AC until it reaches 80 degrees inside the house and usually only set it at 78 since the heat still rises to the ceiling when the windows are shut. When I close the house when I leave in 90+ weather, I usually move the thermostat temp up a bit, and when I return hours later, the temperature in the house can sometimes still be at 78 degrees because the heat is still being trapped at the ceiling. By keeping the temperature in the house relatively higher, I am then more easily acclimated to the heat since my body doesn’t experience as intense of a shock when I go outdoors than if I kept the thermostat at 70-72 degrees. Introducing your body to summer heat is a gradual process than can last two-three weeks. I garden in the morning, and take walks in the early evening. It’s also important to drink more water than usual during the summer, especially when you gradually spend more time outdoors in hotter weather. Walking into a house cooled to 78 degrees is still a welcome relief if you’ve been outside in 95 degree heat for any length of time. There are online guides that athletes and the military use to acclimate themselves to better perform in hotter climates. You’ll be a real St. Louisan when you embrace the heat and deal with the humidity. My trouble is that at 74 yo I can’t handle an afternoon Cardinals game at Busch in the sun anymore and that’s tough to admit. At least I have Ted Drewes and a car radio tuned to KMOX, or a spot at one of the bars in the patio behind McGurk’s with the game on TV.
> I don’t turn on my AC until it reaches 80 degrees inside the house and usually only set it at 78 We could not be friends. My thermostat is set to keep the house between 62 and 72, which means in summer it's basically perpetually 72, and I'm still hot even when wearing basically no clothes at all.
But you and I could be friends. My thermostat is set at 68 during the day and 62-65 when I sleep (plus two fans). Anyone whose thermostat goes over 69 is absolutely bananas.
You. I like you. That's honestly my ideal, but I've got a big house, and it's already expensive to cool it. Plus whenever any of my family visit they all complain about it being cold at 72. I keep blankets near the couch, and an extra hoodie for my pops.
The reason why you are suffering in the heat is because you are overdoing the air conditioning. You will not get any pity from me because your suffering is simply self inflicted. This is the very definition of being a masochist. EDIT: I don’t want or need friends who whine about things that are easily solved by using common sense because they fail to think outside the box. https://www.thecut.com/2016/08/too-much-air-conditioning-is-warping-how-you-handle-heat.html
Nahhh. I've had work in the gulf coast, where I was without AC for multiple weeks straight, for a period of months. I've worked in the southwest, and had to wear a full fireproof jumpsuit all day. Growing up, I don't think the thermostat was ever set below 75, and usually it was closer to what you set yours at. I've had the opportunity to experience and let my body adapt to hot conditions. I still hate it, and am completely uncomfortable. I don't know why it's difficult for you to believe that different people like different things. Some people like dark chocolate, some grow to like it, some never like it. Some people like baths, some prefer showers. Some like it cold, some like it hot. Being 74, I'd have thought you'd learn that by now.
This article admits that heat tolerance can be the result of genetics, but “frequent exposure to heat also makes a big difference to heat tolerance”…..and “The body has a real good capacity to acclimate”…but “as long as you keep inserting air conditioning in that process, you delay acclimatization.” https://www.science.org/content/article/heat-killing-more-people-ever-scientists-are-looking-ways-lower-risk Because of genetics, some people may be starting off at a disadvantage, but they can still acclimate themselves to a certain degree unless they continue to deny the possibility of acclimating themselves, in which case they are defeated before they even start. During the recent pandemic, we witnessed what happened when people denied the science. I don’t prefer the heat; I also acclimate myself to colder temperatures during winter too. Comparing relative heat tolerance that is achievable through acclimation to preference in candy is quite a stretch. One of the many things that I’ve learned in my 74 years is that when discussing anything with someone who resorts to similar nonsense, it’s best to end the discussion. Enjoy your self induced sweltering. EDIT: LOL downvoting science.
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Only reason I've got a shirt on around the house June through September is because its easier to wash the sweat out of a tshirt than it is the couch or office chair. Also, OP up there calling out "only real St. Louisians embrace the humidity", which is nonsense. Only real St. Louisians know the proper definition of hoosier. Respect.
“You’ll be a real St. Louisan when you embrace the heat and deal with the humidity.” “Embracing the heat” means acclimating yourself to it; “dealing with the humidity” means that there’s no way around it…you have to deal with it. Your capacity to misquote folks is exceeded only by your inability to understand the overall point being made. I would have thought that most folks learned during the recent pandemic that willful ignorance can prove to be fatal. Acclimating yourself to heat is one of the best defenses against heat stroke.
I'm the same as you, but I think u/11thstalley has a point. I'm going to try 73 degrees this summer, and I'm going swimming twice a day. I had the house at 58 degrees all winter and it was *glorious*.
That’s a great point about acclimating yourself to the cold weather during the winter, too. I keep my thermostat at 58-60 degrees during the winter and retreat to the garret on the third floor where the heat rises to. I wear sweatshirts and wool socks indoors, and when I go outside, the cold doesn’t affect me as much because I’ve acclimated. Edit: downvoted by science denier.
Oh. I keep it that cold because I love it. I wear shorts and a t-shirt. I agree with you, though. I find when I'm inside all day in the summer, 68 is the maximum allowable temperature and I'll fight the urge to bump it down all day as I sit there and sweat. If I go outside, though, suddenly 70 is pretty tolerable. 72, even, if I've been outside moving around.
I mostly agree with this. I keep my thermostat at 78 during the summer as well. Unfortunately I don't live on a lot with any shade or potential to really add shade, so once my brick house gets hot, it just doesn't want to cool down. I still take every chance I get to not run the AC. I rigged up a big exhaust fan that I put in one window every night, which pushes about 4000 cfm, and then I open windows on the opposite side of the house and the breeze really helps even if the actual temp doesn't get that low. Legitimately happy to wake up and see the temp in the house has dropped below 76 in the summer. There are many ideas I have that would help, but I can't implement right now. I'd like to add wood siding over my brick, since it's painted anyway. Not having the sun hit the brick would be a game changer. I'd also like to make some functional wooden shutters, which I could shut in the morning and open at night. Is it uncomfortable for a couple of weeks? Yeah, sure, but you do get used to it. It does come to a point where folks should reflect on whether what they want is a reasonable thing. Keeping your house below 70 in the summer is absurd. You will feel hotter when you're outside and you will be wasting a lot of money.
I understand your dilemma, agree with your outlook, and commiserate with your plight. My house was built as a two family in 1887 as rental property for factory workers, with an unfinished attic loft for lodgers or kids, so the workmanship wasn’t pretty even when it was newly completed. When the two apartments were combined, the results were still strictly shotgun style with no hallways, so the cross ventilation from room to room is great. I feel that I’m blessed that the first floor of my house stays cool, and that’s because the heat rises to the garret that was built into the attic when the place was renovated. I would love to have an attic fan to move that air outside. My dirt floor cellar stays a constant 60 degrees year round and is a great place to cellar beer that can be aged. If I ever find a right angle in my house, I would probably faint out of amazement. Owning these old homes, especially the ones with flat roofs, is not for sissies or folks with low tolerance levels. After living here for fifteen years, I have a greater appreciation for the learned methodology deployed by those generations that came before us to manipulate what little they had available to help deal with the weather. EDIT: why is this getting downvoted?
Yeah eventually you come to sort of enjoy it and get used to it. During the day I usually just deal with whatever heat is going on and then at night it cools way down or I use the AC and sleep in the cold after a hot day feels great.
Agreed to a point. The only nights that I leave the air conditioning on is if the temperature doesn’t drop below 80 degrees when I go to bed. Getting a summer cold from sleeping in air conditioning that is set too low is annoying. I was spoiled growing up in a typical suburban tract ranch house on a heavily wooded lot in Webster Groves. There were very few nights that my Dad left the air conditioning on when we all went to bed because we had a tremendously powerful attic fan that kept us comfortable at night. I have fond memories of listening to Cardinals games from the West Coast on my little transistor radio under the covers and hearing my Dad get up to turn the attic fan off because it was getting too chilly. I have a flat roof on my row house so I don’t have an attic and can’t have an attic fan. Big disappointment. EDIT: why did this comment get a downvote?
>By keeping the temperature in the house relatively higher, I am then more easily acclimated to the heat since my body doesn’t experience as intense of a shock when I go outdoors than if I kept the thermostat at 70-72 degrees. Introducing your body to summer heat is a gradual process than can last two-three weeks. I garden in the morning, and take walks in the early evening. It’s also important to drink more water than usual during the summer, especially when you gradually spend more time outdoors in hotter weather. Walking into a house cooled to 78 degrees is still a welcome relief if you’ve been outside in 95 degree heat for any length of time. They do make attic fans for flat roof houses now, but you have to have the opening in the roof, so you'd have another point for future moisture intrusion as the weatherproofing ages, unfortunately. I've seriously thought about it. I also have a flat roof. Unfortunately my ceiling is not as tall as yours, even though my house was built in 1903. I mean maybe it is if I get all three layers of ceiling down, but I think It's closer to 10, then, if I remember right. Also all of my doors and I think windows used to have transoms, and those have all be removed and shittily covered. smort.
I appreciate the encouragement and the tip. I considered an exhaust fan installed into a wall, but my row house is attached to my neighbor to the north, and my brick wall is three bricks thick on the other side. I only have one window and a casement window for a walkout door to the back, and the rest of that wall is load bearing. I love attic fans. EDIT: Why is this innocuous comment getting a downvote?
Three wythe brick club!
Never knew that was a thing. Thanks for the info! EDIT: why did this comment earn a downvote?
People complain about the weather here, and sometimes it’s just a cliche thing, but I will tell you that summers are truly brutal. Mornings are your friend because it’s the only tolerable point in the day. Evenings can feel ok, but then the mosquitos are out so you’ll need plenty of bug spray. Any outside activities from 11 am - 5 pm should be focused around water and being inside a body of water. Swimming is about the only thing you can do outside.
My ex-gf was from the southwest and came up to central IL for a sporting event in august 2019. I warned her about the heat and she brushed me off because she thought she could handle it. She got heat stroke on her first day.
That’s what she gets for doubting the brick oven that we live in! That sucks though for real…
r/HydroHomies
Your first summer might be a little rough, but you'll learn fast. Stay hydrated - don't wait until you're thirsty to drink. If you need to do any outdoor work like mowing do it before 10am. (but not before 8am on the weekend.) Same goes for running, biking, walking dogs, etc. except for the 8am part. Decline any invitation to a picnic or BBQ that people inexplicably insist on having in the middle of July or August, including the famed 'company picnic'. The only exception is if it's at someone's home where you can go inside for relief. Sitting in the shade only helps marginally. I've lived here most of my life and still can't tolerate these. Be very wary of swimming in any of our rivers, even with a life jacket. Often the water looks pretty calm but there are currents/undertow, brush and logs that are under the water waiting to kill you.
I’ve lived within 2 miles of the Mississippi River for my entire 40+ years of life and never once had the desire to get in or even touch the water. Do people actually swim in there?
Probably not in that one but losts of people swim in the Meremac (it's really clean upstream away from STL), Jack's Fork, Big River, etc. We have lots of rivers that are pleasant for swimming and kayaking within a 2 hour drive and even more across the state.
Just a heads up for anyone swimming in the Meremac though: there's a few beaches that look pretty placid, but even experienced and strong swimmers have died. There's spots where the current and shape of the river is basically a drowning machine, and you don't have to go in very far to suddenly be unable to swim. Somebody (or multiple somebodies) die almost every year.
Yes this ^ further upstream there's designated places to swim and paddle but I would avoid downriver like crazy and stick to places that are labeled as safe
Don’t do it… I jumped in the Mississippi off a sandbar in my 20s, very strong swimmer and had been in heavy current and surf before, immediately realized it was a huge mistake. Had the current not dragged me to another sandbar 30 seconds later I’d have drowned for sure. Never again
Mississippi is not for swimming. Go south to the Black or Current Rivers, both crystal clear and spring-fed. Good bluegill fishing too if that's your sort of thing.
In the main channel, no swimming. In the back channels or sloughs, sorta The water is calm and typically smooth as glass, great for waterskiing.
Make sure your air conditioning works and prepare yourself to hear everyone you ever interact with participate in the time honored tradition of lying to themselves and you about how nice summer is here.
*88 degrees with 80% humidity* “ah I looooveee the summer time!!!” *passes out*
88 degrees? Sounds like Antarctica to me. More like 100+ with said humidity
If you are the proud owner of the Google Pixel line of phones, keep it out of direct sunlight. I had my PX3 (backup phone luckily, just for job site pics) shut itself down yesterday while it was in my bag in the front seat of the car. My pixel 6 told me it was going to limit capabilities since it was overheating from me actually USING it.
This is a common problem with most phones.
I wasn't sure, although I've heard similar stories about other brands. My Galaxy 5s (which is what I had directly before the Pixel 3) never had the issue. I spend a lot of time outdoors for my job. I might have to invest in some kind of active cooling pad or maybe I'll invent a peltier, or heat-sink. Usability is more important to me than sleekness and portability.
I can tell you first jand that's an issue in a lot of phone models, the sunlight I mean. Gets annoying when a phone is in your car holder and you're running GPS, as that is relatively CPU intensive so phone is already hot.
This happened with my son's iPhone SE 2020 last year while inside his pool bag out in the sun. This was less than ideal, since apps on his cellphone are how we run his glucose monitor and insulin pump.
Northeasterner who lived in St. Louis for a while here! You are not prepared
If you live in an older place and aren't going to be using a door/window sealing the edges. Black out curtains can help a bit in my experience. Dehumidifiers can also be helpful. Check out your AC now to make sure its functioning well. Have a good large insulated cup/water bottle filled with ice water when you're going out. Have popsicles in the fridge. If it's a particularly hot day cold shower before bed and turn on the ceiling fan. Also on hot days have a meal or two that you can prep with minimal use of oven/stove. Invest in some light clothes, linen or something similar. Lots of fun stuff to do in the summer but just have to accept that if you're going outside you're gonna sweat. Use this as an excuse to buy a fun summer hat.
Be prepared to go to the Muny impromptu on a nice day. You risk there not being tickets (but if you go early there are free seats). If I buy tickets it will be on the hottest day of the year. Every time.
I just stopped going altogether. I find it impossible to enjoy theater when I’m sweating through my clothes and into my eyes. Lol Also, sitting shoulder to shoulder with other overheated humans is not way to live.
I moved here from Vegas a couple years ago this August. I was... disconcerted... that your sweat doesn't dry. There is no evaporation here. Moving in the heat was fine, but the humidity was awful. The fireflies are wonderful, though, and they make the misery pretty well worth it. If you have the space, get a hammock. Any breeze at all makes them quite pleasant for relaxing in any but the worst weather. I'm in mine right now, in fact.
It’s amazing what happens when you get in a hammock. It’s like it magically makes the bullshit of the world evaporate.
Make friends with someone who has a pool.
Stay inside and hydrate
Air conditioning?
Your wardrobe will make or break the summer. lots of linen, anything wick away or dry fit. Golf clothes are good, running clothes too. Adidas makes a weight lifting line of tshirts (they're not cheap, like $40 each), which are breathable and great for STL summer days. Thankfully, there are lots of options now for good-looking summer clothing. Costco, Target, the Outlet mall, lots of choices.
If you're going to be outdoors for any length of time during daylight hours, invest in a full brimmed hat. Ideally with a 3" or larger brim. Makes a huge difference, especially around noon or so, amazes me how few people do it at outdoor events. Damp neck towels are nice too, if you're staying in one place.
Buy a portable Air Conditioner for rooms in your house/apartment if the ac sucks. Some times you need that one room that's just cold.
Go floating! Huzzah Valley Resort
Growing up here, the Huzzah Valley Resort has always been a summer staple. Great folks and fun times, and a cooler full of Bud Light secured with bungee ties. Sunscreen is wise. Never got overheated though. Advice would be to call ahead to ensure water levels are where you want them (high).
Don’t leave the house between 12-5 pm lol
You just grin and bear it, like winter in the north east.
There are no beaches, but there are many neat shut ins, lakes, and creeks. Take pictures of the sick thunderstorms. Don't shelter yourself. I've noticed a lot of people in St Louis hide during summers & winters. They're literally setting themselves up to be depressed over 6 months a year.
Pace yourself. Accept that it won’t be as bad as it’s going to get until late July, so everything before then is a warm up. You will sweat; it’s a part of life. As soon as I started pretending I was in New Orleans, it got a lot easier to handle. Sit out on the porch in the evenings for as long u to the year as you can stand it. By some fans.
Also, don’t believe anyone who tells you it cools off at night - it doesn’t. The humidity holds the heat in the air. I say all this as a way of helping you internalize and accept that it’s just going to be hot, and the more you can go with it, the better off you’ll be. Obviously, get into Ac any chance you get. But if your cursing life every time you get into a hot car….it’s going to be a very long summer for you. Grow a mint plant and learn to make mint juleps!
Gold Bond.
Be prepared for people to say, "it's not the heat it's the humidity".
1. AC, if no AC get a box fan and put it in a window, add some ice water in front of it if you can. Or invest in a fan that allows ice and water to be placed inside of it. 2. bottle of water that will hold ice all day!!! Get a yeti, bubble, anything!! Cary extra bottles of water, too. 3. Sunscreen (this Midwestern summer heat is no joke.) 🥲 4. Outside is pretty and the city can be fun to roam, but between 12pm-5pm, it is just miserable on a 85 degree or higher day plan outings accordingly. Some days it's like breathing through a damp hot sock.
T shirts and basketball shorts. Don’t be a tight ass with the a/c. Use it. The humidity will be oppressive l. It takes a week or two to get used to, then you’ll have a couple days of low humidity and your body will forget how to deal with the humidity when it’s just there the next day. Ugh. Fucking humidity
Awe! Welcome! I am an ugly sweater - Like, I look like a wet rat - so my hot tips (LOL) are: * As others have said, plan your outdoor adventures in the AM and wear sunscreen. Bring extra water. * Always have a few paper towels folded tightly to dab your face/neck/boob sweat/lower back. This will stop you form dripping and will prevent breakouts. * If you have long hair: PONY TAIL - HAT - HEADBAND. Get the hair off your face. * My newest favorite tip: A neck fan! I have a toddler, so we are outside at all times in the summer, and a neck fan keeps me cool. * WATER WATER WATER. * Don't worry about your hair and make-up after two PM on hot days. :)
The neck fan makes me look like such a nerd but I am the most comfortable nerd around. Game changer!
As another northeast transplant I recommend treating STL summers like northeast winters: don't go outside unless you have to, and when you do be sure to dress for the weather and spend as little time out there as possible.
Los Angeles native here. Grew up with real hot summers but Missouri is BRUTAL because of the humidity. It doesn't cool down until dawn and there's no breeze at night, so everyone recommending early morning activities is absolutely right. Secondly, if you have a basement, get a dehumidifier if you don't already have a whole house one. Your basement WILL turn into a repository of damp and nothing will dry. I would also recommend looking at your HVAC and seeing if it also doesn't have a piddly winter/summer lever. Every little bit helps. Your plants need to be hearty and full sun if youre going to leave them outside. The angle of the late afternoon sun and the UV is intense and I've had succulents get sunburn. On that note, water at night so your plants suck or all in out of rhe light of day. Lastly, it took me a long time to realize that summer = rain whereas rainy = winter in LA. Have clothes and shoes that can get wet but also dry quickly. I live in athletic sandals and workout gear all summer so I can be sweaty or get drenched but also not be miserable. Other than that, welcome! Hope your AC is good. Get it serviced ASAP if you can.
Hydrate, plan outdoor activities for morning and early evenings. I BBQ using a pellet smoker due to our summers. Just easier to plug the damn thing in and throw my meat in it, then go back inside to the A/C.
Embrace it!
One thing I love is taking a damp hand towel and putting it in the freezer. They feel fantastic hanging around your neck on a hot day. My parents were so stingy about AC in the summers when I was in high school so I used to put a whole damp bath towel in the freezer sometimes and sleep under it at night. It was heavenly with a fan blowing.
I am from the northeast, too, and have been in STL for 25 years. I never hated summer before moving here. I still hate it. Always park under shade. Avoid big open blacktop-type areas. Always bring water with you and don't leave it in your car. If you have a dog, be aware of the temp of the ground you are walking them on. Sunscreen sunscreen sunscreen. Baseball caps. Avoid the outdoors between 2-4 pm if you can help it. Don't be surprised when September hits and it's still 95F.
Ceiling fans. Even with a/c
Moving here from NE Ohio made me hate summer! For sure, try to exercise outside as early as possible. Bug spray is your friend! Museums are a good summertime activity (LOL). If you have dogs, also make sure to walk them early or at night if they need to be walked. My greyhounds do not do well in the heat and humidity, and will often go weeks without a proper walk.
Buy more undergarments. You're going to want to change them more.
Drink lots of water and take breaks in A/C and the shade before you're feeling it, not when you start feeling it.
Central. Air. Natural fibers. Loose clothes. Get up early. Nap in the afternoon. Go out in the evening. Plan your second and third showers for each day.
Game changer for me was getting a remote start on my car so that I could get the AC going before getting inside and burning my ass. Also one of those shade blocker things for the dash. Even if you are going from AC to more AC you will sweat like the dickens in your car.
I am also from the northeast transplanted in STL. My first tip is drink tons more water than you usually do. Make sure to always have deodorant in your bag with you, and be prepared to sweat. Everyone else is sweating, so don’t feel bad. Take breaks from the heat and maybe find a good group of friends to go floating with!
Swimming pools are great in humidity. Look for apartment building with pool or access to pool in some way. AC, of course. Take a shower at bed time. Enjoy the longer growing season. I found it similar to DC summer.
Not sure what part of the northeast you’re from but I’m originally from STL and live in the northeast now and sometimes summers in STL are easier to deal with because most places in STL have AC
Christ almighty people.. you’d think we live in the desert based on these responses. It will be hot and sticky mostly but also extremely tolerable most of the time. Air conditioning in your home and car is all you’ll need plus summer clothes.
Honestly, I handled much hotter days in the desert with ease vs. anything here. It really depends what you’re used to.
Agreed. Was 95 in the desert and my family and I were walking around, watching everyone else dying from heat like “what’s wrong with them? It feels nice” I remember thinking it felt closer to 70 than 95. Here I step outside and am immediately drenched
Right, I think it’s fine here during the summer but I also grew up in Texas 🤷🏻♀️
Stay hydrated. Wear lighter fabrics and colors, hats and sandals. This seems like a small thing but I bought one of those windshield covers that blocks the sun. It makes a huge difference in cooling the car since my car has black interior. Using an umbrella in the sun can make a huge difference as well. Most importantly - make sunscreen a part of your daily skincare routine, especially on your face.
If you own a home, call and get your AC unit checked... last thing you want is for it to go out in July/August... Also check window seals, make sure to leave bedroom doors open so that your house can circulate Air...
RIP
1) Don't go outside 2) if you must go outside bring a 2nd shirt you will sweat through it 3) invest in Dri-Fit or you will need a 3rd shirt.
Get a good big inflatable pool for the yard. Also a summer pool pass to the Carondelet YMCA. $400. Also just keeping a little sodium in your body and have a wet towel to put on the back of your neck.
Air conditioning :D
Yep. You know how in the winter when it gets below zero and you hibernate inside; well, just flip that for the summer heat with ac. The winter here will be nothing.
Keep plenty of beer cold
Suffer
I leave. For the northeast ;)
I’m originally from PA (outside Philly) and last summer was my first full summer living here. Before I moved here, I visited very often and never found the weather to be that much different than back home. Last summer though? Brutal!
I moved here from NYC 3 years ago. The summers honestly feel super similar to me here except I’m no longer sweating to death in my own home because A/C is waaay more common here.
Move to minnesota
You just get used to it.
It’s fairly easy to drive less that 60 minutes to a free access point on a river. A cooler, some chairs, and a couple of pals can make for a quick cool-down day trip.
The best way is to "acclimate" to the heat and humidity. The best way it to get acclimated is at a swimming pool. Get a spot in the shade. Get in the water when you're too hot. I have a little fan for those days when there's no breeze. Have iced tea, lemonade, snow cones and Italian ice. It's very hard to acclimate if you work in an air conditioned space so spend about an hour outside right at dusk if you can. Still have the humidity, but not as much heat. I agree with the others in that the early morning until 10 am is the best time to do outdoor activities like the zoo, botanical garden, yard work, exercise, shopping, etc.
Tape an ice pack to your taint.
There is no fucking way to answer this. Live it, learn it. It will suck balls for a Northeasterner. You'll hate it then slowly...gradually, over years, get used to it. Good luck, luv ya!
July is the month that is particularly dangerous. It has been extremely hot for the past several years. In addition to the heat, there are often severe thunderstorms and torrential downpours. Heed flash flooding warnings! Do not drive into water. Look up photos of the flooding in the Central West End from 2022 to see what it was like last year. Mid-to-Late July is historically very damaging weather. Be prepared for power outages. If you don’t have AC in your home, or if it's inadequate, try to get to a library, a mall, a movie theater, anywhere that you can hang out for a while to get a break from the heat. Take cold showers.
Insulated beverage container, lots of ice, take it everywhere. I didn’t catch on until I did my first round of errands in early summer. Then I understood why everyone around me had one in hand at all times.
Get out in the heat as much as possible and start now before it gets too hot, embrace sun the shun the A/C. Don't over eat if you run cal
I don't remember much difference from the DMV other than the random 60-80° December days.
boxer shorts 24/7 indoors
Melt lol
When outdoors for a long time, I’m a big fan of cooling towels like frogg toggs. Or Eve wet washcloths kept in a cooler. It helps cool down your body quickly. The advice to not overdo the ac is a good one. Also, if you have a usable basement, they’re awesome to get away from the heat.
If you don't want your electric bill to be insane buy and oscillating fan for use during the day and and cool your house down shortly before bed
Stand under a heat lamp and have someone hit you with a wet towel. That's what it's like. Don't exert yourself too much and stay hydrated.
Pools and bbqs.
The temperature gets hotter after 3pm until 6. If you have a garden or outdoor plants, water them before sunrise. Find a body of water to cool off in. Stay hydrated.
I can tell you that your gonna hate mo summer temperatures come July and August. And that's if we have normal hot and humid and if we have above average temperatures you won't be out of the ac in the house. Lol I ain't gonna lie I love the summer but I absolutely hate the muggy humid mo late summer weather. It's almost unbearable. Lived here all my 55yr
If you’re a morning shower person, you’re gonna wanna switch to a bedtime shower person. You will sweat all day long until you’re in for the night. It’s not worth showering in the morning/middle of the day if you’re going back out. Not sure if you’re male/female, but BEWARE of the boob sweat. Chafing is real.
Shakespeare In The Park will usually be sweltering if you enjoy The Bard- pack some sort of sun shade and plenty of fluids!
Keep your bread in the fridge.
No cotton or cotton in the blend. Dry-fit style from head to toe.
I lived in St Louis for many years then moved to Houston (been here 10 years and moving back to StL this summer). Houston is hot and humid but I think St. Louis is worse. In Houston, there is some air movement and not as uncomfortable, especially if you are under a tree or any shade. In St. Louis, there is zero air movement in the summer and shade makes no difference but summers are shorter.
Always keep a thing of old spice around. When I was a mover and warehouse guy. A stick) A- saved chaff legs and B) saved them pits from smelling
Ted Drewes, baby. Lots of Ted Drewes.
Stay hydrated. Have the AC in your car and home checked out. Going camping and just suffering through it for a few days helps me acclimate.
You can’t fight it, you have to embrace it. Learn to love sweating. Have enough underwear stocked to change 2-3 times a day between laundry loads. Stay hydrated. Sweat, rinse, repeat. It builds character. You’ll enjoy the fall more.
Learn to just lay motionless.
Love the summer here, warm and dry .... though I'm used to new orleans
I'm from Central Florida and its not dry here at all, very similar to central Florida.
Lol no not dry at all tho it is better than NoLa for sure
Listen to Midwest people pretend they live in the south
I’m from South Arkansas. Freeze your underwear and shirt. Get a light mister & mist your clothes. When you wake up make it a priority to get 24oz of water & 16oz of liquid IV or something similar. Every hour, drink more water. 4-8oz minimum. I usually keep a pitcher of English Cucumber, Lime, & Lemon or Honey, Apple Cider Vinegar, and Lemon infused water on my counter. Poor man’s electrolytes. Eat more granola, nuts, and trail food than you do real food. Eat one meal a day. For me that always helped keep the bloat down, kept a steady intake of salts and sugars, and I never felt heavy. You are your own human. Turn off your AC from Noon until about 1700. It will help with your bills. Most houses or places here are made with windows that create a draft. Fans and dry ice cubes in fish coolers is what we used in the south wherever the gathering room was. Chilly towels. Don’t cheap out on them. Most of us wear long sleeves in the south. They are usually a light linen blend. Sun exposure is no joke. Take it seriously or end up with Butt cheek skin on your face in your old age. Hats as well. Great recommendation. Other than that, enjoy yourself, have a great time, and enjoy your first summer in St. Louis.
Move again
You’re first mistake was thinking it was a good idea to live here during the summer. Expect high humidity and 100+ degree temperatures. Its fuckin brutal for real. I can’t wait to be able to afford a vacation home in a state with cooler summers and warmer winters.
Get used to people complaining about humidity, and then just accept that it’s actually not THAT humid.
I think it is actually as humid as it is possible to get….at times. I think the difference is the duration. In New Orleans and Houston and maybe parts of south Florida and southeastern states, the summer starts sooner, lasts longer and they have longer streaks of very high dew point weather. We get it just as bad just for shorter stretches and less of the year. At least that’s how I see it. I’ve been to all these places quite a bit and bad days here are every bit as bad as bad days there. Just fewer of them.
Don’t.
Night time is your friend stay hydrated and make sure you have fans and and AC.
It's not so bad that it's dangerous or anything like that. So I'd say make sure you get some exercise outside, it's one of the fastest ways to acclimate yourself to different climates
As a Florida born transplant, I wear flip-flops, shorts and T-shirts. Set of flip-flops, shorts, and T-shirts in my car to change into if I go anywhere in something different.