Hot enough for you? Houston is used to hot weather, it’s sort of our thing. But I swear, this summer seems hotter than usual … hotter than ever before.

So let’s put KPRC Channel 2 weather forecaster Justin Stapleton — noted for his hairdo and love of cool socks — on the hot seat and see just where summer 2023 falls on Houston’s all-time weather map.

CultureMap: Is our current heatwave typical or historic?

Justin Stapleton: Funny enough, while it seems like there could never be a hotter summer than this one, we actually had more 100-degree days in June of 2022 than this recent past month!

The jetstream pattern has had two blocking dips on both the east and west coast, which has helped to plant the hot high pressure over Texas. Think of it like a rope, if you push down one end of the rope, another side of it will push up, which is what is happening to us right now.

CM: I’ve read that a few recent days have been the hottest the world has ever experienced. What does that mean?

JS: That means that since we have been keeping consistent temperature records on a global scale, the past few days have had the highest aggregate global temperature readings that have ever been seen.

Does that mean that every place on the planet is the hottest it has ever been? No, but if you take the average of temps across the globe, these values are hotter than has ever been recorded.

Not a record that we want to beat but unfortunately, here we are.

CM: Before moving to Houston, I lived in Phoenix. The summer temperature routinely hit 115 to 118 degrees. And that’s the temperature in the shade in a grassy area by the airport, away from buildings and roads. The thermometer in my backyard would read 120 in the shade. So why do people in Texas freak out when it reaches 100 degrees? Are we soft?

JS: It's not the heat, it's the humidity! The benefit of the desert southwest is that while air temps will climb into the 110s in the summer, the humidity, or the stickiness of how the air feels on your skin, usually is very dry.

So, while it is stupid hot and you'll dehydrate quickly, you can still manage to move without turning into a puddle within seconds, unlike the soupy, tropical nature of greater Houston.

Also, 100 degrees is like a psychological number, tell people it'll be 99 and they'll say 'oh, that's hot,' and go on about their day.

However, say 100 is the high, now the sky is literally on fire! Kind of like you buy something for $4.99, it's a deal, but if it's $5, you're getting ripped off.

CM: Why does the weather service take the official temperature in the shade at a grassy field away from civilization? They might as well report our temperature from Orlando because that’s where Fantasyland is.

JS: That may be true, and they would also have to fight with Pluto to get the thermometer back after he stole it from the recording station.

Think about the temps that you may have seen in the past on a bank sign, or your car's temp gauge. Ever notice that it might say '115' or for a bank sign, '135?' If you leave a thermometer in blazing sunlight, it will adversely affect the accurate reading of the actual air temp because you're cooking the bulb in the hot sun.

To stay consistent, the National Weather Service will always have their gauges off the ground and in the shade to get the most accurate results.

CM: Is breathing 100-degree air dangerous?

JS: If you're outside and have plenty of ventilation (and some shade from time to time), then no. It may feel like nasty hot breath on you, but it will be fine.

The bigger issue is folks’ lack of planning for the 100-degree heat, i.e. not packing water, not listening to your body if you feel dizzy or faint.

CM: Are dehumidifiers in your house a good idea?

JS: I think that's a personal preference, I would say if you do not have central A/C, they would help to dry out some of the air so that everything in your house doesn't feel slimy and wet most of the time.

CM: How come TV forecasters stopped with the bouffant hairdos?

JS: I don't know, but I will lead the charge to get them back. Nothing says trustworthy and confidence in a forecast more than blowing through a full can of Aqua Net hair spray. (Editor's note: We couldn't agree more, Justin. Just make sure it's pump spray and not aerosol — you being a noted nature guy and all.)

CM: Give me a date: When will our high temp fall below 85 degrees?

JS: On average, we generally see 85 degrees around early October (aside from thunderstorms or rain that keeps us below that all day).

I'm not a betting man — just kidding — I am, so I say we'll see it on October 12 this year.

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Contact Ken Hoffman at ken@culturemap.com.