Phoenix on Wednesday was named the sweatiest city in the United States, but Miami topped the list as the most uncomfortable American city due to its mix of humidity and heat.
The fifth annual sweat survey sponsored by Procter & Gamble Co. handed the dubious distinction to the Arizona capital for the third time. El Paso, Texas, earned the title in 2004 and San Antonio, Texas, in 2002.
The study of 100 cities estimates the amount of sweat a person of average weight and height would produce walking around for an hour in the average high temperatures of a particular city during June, July and August.
The latest survey found that the average Phoenix resident produced 26 ounces of sweat per hour during a typical summer day last year when the desert city’s high temperature averaged 93.3 Fahrenheit.
It means that in under three hours, Phoenix residents collectively produced enough sweat to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool, said Jay Gooch, sweat expert at Old Spice, a Procter & Gamble Co. antiperspirant brand.
But Gooch said Phoenix’s humidity was only 22 percent, making it much more comfortable than Miami, with average temperatures last year of 83.9 F and humidity of 76 percent, according to government figures.
“In Phoenix you sweat much more than in Miami, but it evaporates quickly as it is such dry air so you don’t notice as much. In Miami the sweat stays on your skin,” said Gooch.