The worst heat I have ever experience was back in the Summer of 1973 when it hit 115F with an astounding 98% humidity in Houston, Texas. It was so bad that many home air conditioners failed. Living in Houston, I remember the smell of mildew that was prevalent and there were so many bugs and frogs. Many people believe Texas is mostly desert because of Western movies which were based on West Texas. East Texas is right by the Gulf of Mexico and it is very humid. As a matter of fact, alligators live by the Red River state boundary by Louisiana. Texas is a large state. El Paso, Texas is closer to Los Angeles, California than to Houston, Texas.