Dear Tom,
What is the lowest relative humidity level ever recorded?
Ramona Howerton
Dear Ramona,
Low humidity values are one aspect of weather records that are not well documented. On the high side, humidity readings of 100% are very common and occur with great frequency around the world. In contrast, low values of relative humidity are rare, confined almost exclusively to the worldOs deserts.
The world’s lowest relative humidity value seems to be about 2%, and has been recorded at several U.S. locations such as Las Vegas, Nev., Phoenix and Yuma, Ariz. and Death Valley, Calif. World-wide, similar 2% levels have been noted in the Sahara Desert and have likely occurred in other desert regions around the world. ChicagoOs all-time lowest humidity value was 13% measured on three occasions, 5/10/1934, 4/11/1956 and 4/8/1971.
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Tom Skilling is chief meteorologist at WGN-TV. His forecasts can be seen Monday through Friday on WGN-TV News at noon and 9 p.m.
Write to: ASK TOM WHY, 2501 Bradley Pl., Chicago, IL 60618 or asktomwhy@wgntv.com (Mail volume precludes personal response.)
