Weather can define a region and its identity. For example, Pacific Northwest cities like Seattle, WA are known for their clouds and rain, whereas desert cities such as Phoenix, AZ are dry and clear for most of the year.
However, an often-overlooked aspect of weather is humidity. Humidity plays an important role in influencing how hot the temperature actually feels (the heat index); high heat plus high humidity can be very dangerous. People living in the southeastern U.S. know how much humidity can affect daily life.
When deciding where to live, understanding how your body adapts to humidity is key. Many people prefer the feeling of dry heat, while others don’t mind the heavier air that comes with high humidity. So, if you’re planning to move somewhere new, read on to discover the most humid cities in the U.S. and see if they’re right for you.
How we define humidity
Before we dive into the most humid cities, let’s define what humidity is. There are generally three ways to measure humidity: relative humidity, absolute humidity, and dew point.
- Relative humidity: Often shortened to just “humidity,” this is the percentage of moisture in the air compared to how much it can hold at a given temperature.
- Absolute humidity: The total amount of water vapor in the air, regardless of temperature.
- Dew point: The temperature at which air becomes fully saturated, leading to condensation.
This list focuses on the first category, relative humidity. Relative humidity is the most common way people think and talk about humidity and how “muggy” the air feels. Relative humidity is higher when the air temperature is lower and lower when air temperature is higher. As such, we’ll also mention average annual temperature.
We’ll also mention dew points when possible; they measure the actual moisture in the air, unlike relative humidity, which shows how saturated the air is at a given temperature. For instance, a 35°F day with a 35°F dew point produces 100% relative humidity, but the air won’t feel very humid due to the low water content. In contrast, a 90°F day with a 70°F dew point results in only 52% relative humidity but feels much stickier. Higher dew points always feel more humid.
Keep reading to see our ranking of the most humid cities with over 20,000 residents based on their average annual relative humidity. Afterwards, we’ll briefly list the least humid cities.
What are the most humid cities in the U.S.?
1. Juneau, Alaska
- Average annual humidity: 79%
- Average annual temperature: 42.1°F
The most humid city in the U.S. is Juneau, AK. Juneau is also one of the coldest cities in the country and sees ~90” of snowfall per year.
Juneau is so humid because of its coastal location and cold climate. Colder air can hold less water, after all. Temperatures rarely surpass 65°F, and precipitation from the active Northern Pacific is common year-round – more than 250 days during a wet year. Luckily, since temperatures are cool, dew points are also low, so it rarely feels very humid.
If you’re thinking of moving to the area, you’ll love the glacier-filled landscapes, small-town feel, indigenous culture, and rich history. Plus, lively residents will more than make up for the gloomy weather.
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2. San Francisco, California
- Average annual humidity: 78%
- Average annual temperature: 58.7°F
San Francisco is the second-most humid city in the United States. Known for its cool, foggy summers, SF is truly a maritime town influenced by the sea. Rainfall is less common than you might expect, but a consistent onshore flow means the air is generally very damp.
Infrequently, drier offshore wind (from the mainland) blows in and creates hot, brittle, sunny conditions. This weather pattern is conducive to wildfires and is becoming more common throughout the Bay Area. However, this is rare enough that it hardly brings down the region’s high average humidity.
SF is known for its tech industry and culture, historic landmarks, massive parks, and beautiful vistas, making it a one-of-a-kind place to call home. There are truly an endless amount of things to do. The city is among the most expensive in the nation, though.
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3. Port Arthur, Texas
- Average annual humidity: 76.5%
- Average annual temperature: 69.9°F
Just an hour and a half east of Houston, Port Arthur is a small Texas city known for its oil industry, cajun cooking, and outdoor recreation. The city sits on Sabine Lake just across from the Louisiana border.
The combination of heat and humidity becomes a problem in the south. Port Arthur gets its moisture from the warm waters of the nearby Gulf of Mexico, which can create extremely muggy weather. This is because warmer air can hold more water, translating to higher dew points and creating a very humid-feeling climate. Winters are generally mild and pleasant, but summers are hot and suffocating.
Dry air sometimes flows in, which can help with humidity but often leads to hotter temperatures. Severe weather is also very common in the region, with hurricanes, thunderstorms, and flooding all possible
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4. Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Average annual humidity: 76%
- Average annual temperature: 69.7°F
Lake Charles is the fourth-most humid city in the nation. As another southern city on the Gulf Coast, stormy weather, heavy rain, and flooding are again common. Lake Charles is only an hour from Port Arthur, so they have very similar climates.
Lake Charles is known for its casinos, oil refineries, and beaches. Plus, the area’s cost of living is very low, so if you can handle hot, humid weather for six months of the year, you could consider moving.
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5. Galveston, Texas
- Average annual humidity: 76%
- Average annual temperature: 72.3°F
Galveston, an oil-rich city on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, comes in at number five on our list. Galveston sits along the low-lying barrier islands an hour from Houston. 32 miles of shoreline, the famous Moody Gardens, iconic Galveston Pier, and nostalgic Historic District are a few highlights.
Galveston’s humidity comes from the Gulf of Mexico, which also provides plenty of moisture for periodic, heavy rainfall and hot, damp summers. Recently, Galveston saw its hottest August on record, capping off a two-month long heat wave and months of prolonged drought. The heat index regularly surpasses 100°F, sometimes remaining there for over a day due to the humid air.
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6. Olympia, Washington
- Average annual humidity: 76%
- Average annual temperature: 50.5°F
The capital of Washington State and home to the Evergreen State College Geoducks, Olympia is the sixth-most humid city in the country. Olympia is known for its slower pace of life, outdoor recreation, breweries, and many annual events.
Similar to Juneau, Olympia is so humid because of its coastal location and mild climate. It’s generally rainy and gloomy for over half the year, although snow is rare. Summers are mild and sunny. The city only gets hot a few times a year, but when it does, it can feel oppressive. Heat waves have become more common in recent years.
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7. Brownsville, Texas
- Average annual humidity: 75%
- Average annual temperature: 76.2°F
Located on the warm Gulf Coast only a few hundred miles from the Chihuahuan Desert, Brownsville experiences both hot desert heat and warm coastal humidity. These factors help the city see extremely hot summers and generally warm temperatures year-round. The Rio Grande Valley as a whole is very hot.
Like most of Texas, 2023 was exceptionally hot. 2024 brought heat waves that pushed the heat index near 130°F, with high humidity keeping overnight heat indices above 75°F, which is uncomfortable.
Brownsville is home to gorgeous beaches, wildlife viewing areas, and walkable state parks. The cost of living is affordable, too.
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8. Corpus Christi, Texas
- Average annual humidity: 75%
- Average annual temperature: 73.0°F
Corpus Christi is another hot Texas city nestled along the Gulf of Mexico. Like other cities along the Gulf, heat and humidity can combine to create dangerously warm conditions. During the months-long 2023 heat wave, Corpus Christi logged a heat index of 125°F – a record high. The number of 100-degree days in Texas is projected to double by 2036 compared to what it was between 2001 and 2020.
Corpus Christi is a small, oil-rich city but has plenty going for it. Residents love taking trips to the nearby Padre or Mustang Islands and feeling the warm, salty breeze. Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy kayaking in the Laguna Madre and fishing for fresh seafood, or spending a night out at one of the many restaurants in town.
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9. New Orleans, Louisiana
- Average annual humidity: 75%
- Average annual temperature: 70.5°F
The jewel of the Mississippi Delta, New Orleans is built along the crescent-shaped banks of the Mississippi River. Just north of the Gulf of Mexico, temperatures are slightly cooler than South Texas cities, but very high humidity can still make conditions dangerously hot. Temperatures rarely surpass 100°F, but when they do, the heat index can soar past 110°F.
New Orleans has a lot going for it. It’s known for its lively French Quarter, charming Garden District, and miles of scenic bayous. It also boasts world-class music, Creole cuisine, and famous festivals like Mardi Gras that draw millions to the city every year.
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10. Victoria, Texas
- Average annual humidity: 74.5%
- Average annual temperature: 71.0°F
Victoria is situated in the Golden Crescent of Texas between Corpus Christi and Galveston, about an hour from the Gulf of Mexico. Hunting, fishing, and exploring the outdoors are some of the most popular things to do. You’ll find plenty of farms, historic buildings, and arts opportunities, too. The region is also famous for its oil, but production has steeply dropped over the past 30 years.
Victoria’s humidity and heat come from the nearby Gulf, but heat waves can push temperatures a bit higher than cities on the water due to its more inland location.
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The 10 least humid cities in the U.S.
Many people enjoy drier weather, especially in the summer. If this is you, here’s a list of the least humid U.S. cities based on average annual relative humidity:
- Las Vegas, NV: 28%
- Phoenix, AZ: 29.5%
- Tucson, AZ: 34.5%
- El Paso, TX: 35.5%
- Albuquerque, NM: 41%
- Roswell, NM: 45%
- Grand Junction, CO: 46%
- Denver, CO: 46.5%
- Reno, NV: 47%
- Colorado Springs, CO: 49%
What is the most humid place in the country?
The outright most humid place in the U.S. is St. Paul, Alaska. St. Paul has an average annual humidity of 86% – topping out at 93% in July. Most mornings have readings well above 80%. St. Paul is the primary settlement of Saint Paul Island, which is one of the Pribilof Islands off the west coast of Alaska. Cold Bay, located among the Aleutian Islands to the south, is the second most-humid at 83.5%. However, they’re much too small to make our list.
St. Paul is so humid because it lies in the middle of the ocean, is far from the mainland, and is cold year-round. Colder air holds less moisture, so even a small amount of water vapor can saturate the air and push up relative humidity. Low temperatures also mean low dew points, though, so thankfully the town generally doesn’t feel very humid.
How is humidity changing?
The world has been heating up rapidly. Ending this past July, there were 14 straight months of record-breaking temperatures, and 2024 is on track to be the hottest on record. This warmth has had devastating consequences over the past year and a half in the form of heat waves, flooding, drought, and more.
Humidity is also expected to rise as climate change continues because warmer air can hold more water. Warmer, more humid air leads to extremely high heat indices, which can become deadly to humans. Heat index extremes are increasing several times faster than air temperatures, too.
The highest heat index in the U.S. reportedly occurred in Appleton, Wisconsin in 1995, when it reached 148°F. Notoriously hot cities like Phoenix are too dry to generate extreme heat indices. The highest heat indices in the world have occurred near the Persian Gulf, including in Iran (180°F) and Saudi Arabia (178°F).
As global warming accelerates, research indicates that rising humidity, paired with higher temperatures, will make many locations increasingly uncomfortable and even uninhabitable by 2100. Nearly 30% of the world’s population is exposed to deadly heat today. Without intervention, that share will rise to nearly 50%. Cities closer to the equator are home to the highest number of people at risk of deadly heat.
Methodology
This list contains annual relative humidity data for cities with over 20,000 residents. A city’s annual average was calculated by averaging the annual morning and afternoon humidity averages into a single number. Comparative Climatic Data was obtained from a 2023 review by the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) and its parent administration, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
