Humidity

We've had a good taste of early spring; now it's time for a little summer. Humidity is approaching levels more likely seen in May or June. Downtown, at the Sun weather station on Calvert Street, temperatures reached 80 degrees at 3 p.m. with a dew point of 62 degrees, which means a sticky feeling at the low end of uncomfortable territory for most people. Earlier this morning, there was 81 percent relative humidity and the dew point reached as high as 66. BWI Airport reported 80 degrees and a dew point of 52 as of 2 p.m.  It could likely be the hottest day of what has already been such a warm year.

Increasing humidity and highs around 80 degrees are forecast in the Baltimore area Monday, with a chance of showers or thunderstorms in the afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. A warm front moved over the area overnight, with lows in the mid- to upper 60s. Some drizzle and fog was expected to be possible in the early morning hours. Temperatures were expected to rise into the 70s by mid-morning and near 80 degrees by midday. Relative humidity was forecast to be 50-60 percent during the day with dew points in the lower 60s, a level at which humidity starts to become perceptible for most people.

Humidity is intense in some parts of Maryland, and it is expected to continue for a few days. Summer weather is upon us. Martin State Airport in Middle River posted a dew point of 72 degrees as of 9:45 a.m., beyond the normal mugginess of a hot Baltimore day. The air is thick, wet and heavy there. In Annapolis, the dew point was 68 degrees by 10 a.m., while BWI Marshall Airport was at 64 degrees. With dew points, anything above 60 degrees is uncomfortable, while getting above 70 degrees is downright unbearable.

Mostly cloudy skies with highs in the mid-70s are forecast in the Baltimore area Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. Fog and drizzle are possible in the morning hours, with humidity expected to be increasing.  Early morning lows were expected in the upper 50s. Patchy fog could move back in Thursday night into Friday morning, with lows around 60 degrees. Humidity is forecast to continue to build Friday as a frontal system approaches. Highs are forecast to reach the upper 70s Friday until the frontal system moves through, bringing rain and thunderstorms and cooling temperatures significantly.

Summer may technically be over with, but summer-like sticky weather is expected to last through the week in Baltimore. Dew points haven't fallen below 70 degrees at BWI Marshall Airport since Saturday. With temperatures only in the 70s and 80s mostly since then, that meant thick, wet air over Labor Day weekend. The dew point takes into account both the relative humidity and the air temperature, giving a better picture of how humidity feels -- and anything above about 65 feels pretty uncomfortable.

Mostly cloudy skies with highs in the mid-70s are forecast in the Baltimore area Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. Fog and drizzle are possible in the morning hours, with humidity expected to be increasing.  Early morning lows were expected in the upper 50s. Patchy fog could move back in Thursday night into Friday morning, with lows around 60 degrees. Humidity is forecast to continue to build Friday as a frontal system approaches. Highs are forecast to reach the upper 70s Friday until the frontal system moves through, bringing rain and thunderstorms and cooling temperatures significantly.

THIS ONE'S for all you newcomers to the area getting your first taste of our famous humidity and already whining about it. Oh, you're too polite to whine right to our faces. But we know where the conversation's going as soon as you start fanning yourself and doing that little gasping-for-breath thing. "My, it certainly is ... sticky," you say. Yes, we say, it certainly is. "Very sticky," you say, tugging at your collar. Yep, we say. And it's only May. Finally the question we know is coming, the Big One. "Is it always like this?"

WHY do so many people who visit our fair state complain about the humidity? Recently, we've even heard residents -- citizens, even! -- make negative comments about our lovely climate. So, with all due deference to the opinions of the lesser-informed, we would like to present facts which should be self-evident to every thinking individual -- a list of the many benefits and advantages provided by fair Mother Nature in her goodness to us, the denizens of bonnie Maryland. High humidity makes that firm handshake really stick.

WINTERGREEN, Va. -- At the finish line, Tour Du Pont leader Atle Kvalsvoll was talking with reporters when Spago rider Oliver Starr collapsed from his bike, nearly at Kvalsvoll's feet.Interviews with Kvalsvoll continued. Starr was on the groundgasping in pain.Finally, a team trainer ran to his assistance. She rubbed hichest. She poured bottles of water over his head, his chest, his legs. She poured water down his gasping mouth."I had goosebumps the last hour," he told her. "Oh, God."It was the end of Stage 6, a 112-mile race through Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains in yesterday's 90-degree heat with matching humidity.

Now up by two games, Toronto has weathered Detroit's latest challenge.With a little help from the humidity in Baltimore, that is."The humidity is really conducive to throwing a good knuckleball," said Blue Jays starter Tom Candiotti, who threw eight innings of shutout ball in Toronto's 3-0 win at Memorial Stadium last night. "I've had some of my best [games] in real humid places. You'll have to ask a physicist why, but it works best when it's humid and muggy and this was one of the best I've thrown."

A front of cold, Canadian air helped spawn Tuesday's storms, and it also means a stretch of dry, cool air ahead. While some storm chances appear again this weekend, overnight lows are plunging. As the storms passed through Tuesday afternoon, BWI Marshall Airport dropped 11 degrees in two hours, from 79 to 68. The overnight low fell to 60, which could actually be one of the warmest nights over the next week or so. Tonight, lows are expected in the mid-50s, with highs in the low- to mid-70s both Wednesday and Thursday.

Summer may technically be over with, but summer-like sticky weather is expected to last through the week in Baltimore. Dew points haven't fallen below 70 degrees at BWI Marshall Airport since Saturday. With temperatures only in the 70s and 80s mostly since then, that meant thick, wet air over Labor Day weekend. The dew point takes into account both the relative humidity and the air temperature, giving a better picture of how humidity feels -- and anything above about 65 feels pretty uncomfortable.

High humidity is in the forecast for the rest of the work week, making it feel like the mid-90s Wednesday and Thursday. But when expected storms pass through Friday, things are forecast to cool off significantly for the weekend. Highs around 90 are expected Wednesday and Thursday, but dew points of around 70 degrees could make it feel six or seven degrees hotter. Any dew point above 70 means a level of moisture in the air that is considered uncomfortable for everyone. Severe storms are possible both Thursday and Friday.

With a daytime high of 98 degrees in Owings Mills according to Weather.com, staying cool at Ravens training camp was a challenge for the players and coaches on the practice fields. Wide receivers Torrey Smith and LaQuan Williams both dealt with leg cramps caused by dehydration, and at one point, free safety Ed Reed wondered aloud where the I.V. drips were. Fans who attended Thursday afternoon's session were treated to popsicles. Still, coach John Harbaugh said the hot and humid weather is a good barometer for how diligent the players were during the offseason.

Temperatures had reached the lower 90s already by lunchtime Tuesday, but relatively low humidity was keeping the heat index in check in the Baltimore area. A temperature of 95 degrees was recorded at BWI Marshall Airport about noon, but the dew point, a measure of humidity in the air, was 58 degrees. That is on the low side this time of year, and it is keeping the humidity from adding to any perception of heat. During the heat wave earlier this month, dew points topped 70 degrees, bringing the heat index upward of 110 degrees.

June got off to a cool start, but summer heat is expected to return Wednesday. The National Weather Service is expecting highs in the mid-90s Wednesday and Thursday. AccuWeather.com is expecting the same, with a high of 96 on Thursday. Humidity will surely make it feel even hotter -- the weather service is forecasting about 40 percent relative humidity, which would make the heat index about 101 degrees. This month has seen two days at 90 degrees or hotter, as measured at BWI Marshall Airport.

CHANGES in outdoor weather often produce baffling changes in indoor conditions -- things that never leaked before suddenly leak. Drafts develop in previously calm spaces. And for one reader, cold weather produces indoor rain."We installed a Rheem attic AC system into a typical rancher, with the vents in the ceiling," he writes. "Along with the AC we installed a fresh-air exchange system from Honeywell. The unit provides fresh air and humidity controls with an 80 percent efficiency exchange rate.

Humidity is intense in some parts of Maryland, and it is expected to continue for a few days. Summer weather is upon us. Martin State Airport in Middle River posted a dew point of 72 degrees as of 9:45 a.m., beyond the normal mugginess of a hot Baltimore day. The air is thick, wet and heavy there. In Annapolis, the dew point was 68 degrees by 10 a.m., while BWI Marshall Airport was at 64 degrees. With dew points, anything above 60 degrees is uncomfortable, while getting above 70 degrees is downright unbearable.