Hacker News Reader

Comment by bequanna | Hacker News Reader

This is pretty strong conjecture that is the exact opposite of what is currently happening.

If Texas is such a terrible place to live, why are so many people moving there?

Wet bulb temperature would be when the climate gets so hot that perspiration will not cool the body down. It’s a real risk in coming years that will result in death, particularly if it combines with peak AC load to black out a grid for several days.

Texas is not there yet, but IIRC this has already happened in India and parts of the Middle East. https://www.kxan.com/news/national-news/what-is-a-wet-bulb-t...

Heads up: As your link explains, "wet bulb temperature" refers to the method by which the heat is measured, not to the threshold where it becomes intolerable for humans. That threshold is around 90F at 100% humidity, but the actual weather conditions can yield a wet bulb temperature much higher or lower than that.

Sure, I follow you but why would this start killing people in mass?

Wet bulb temp is technically “deadly” in Houston every year with relatively few deaths.

I think the scenario is: power fails so people no longer have AC. I know nothing about how likely that is.

Also, the issue in the article is about water breaks while working outside doing heavy construction labor

> why are so many people moving there?

Because its legal to build housing there, unlike much of the country.

I think there is a little more to it but housing is certainly one reason.

Yeah, but Texas isn't a state known for thinking ahead. For example, those houses need water and electricity...but Texas doesn't care because that's your problem. Meanwhile, they are collecting your taxes.

When wet bulb temperatures get high enough (over human body temperature basically) it becomes deadly to be there. It won't be a matter of politics or housing prices or any of those other issues when people move away because you risk dropping dead just being outside for 15 minutes.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com