They can't tolerate high moist air conditions as you don't get enough evaporation to produce cooling. That is why they are only used in very dry places that have adequate access to water. And there aren't very many places on earth that have that combination.
Evaporative cooling is based on a simple principle: as water evaporates,
the latent heat of vaporization is absorbed by the body of water and the environment
air. As a result, water and air are cooled during
process. in a very humid environment phi = 100%, evaporation of water can not take place because the air is saturated. I think the performance of such a system is low in a humid climate but it is very effective in a dry and hot climate (desert)
In high relative humidity, like 100 %, our body cannot perspire (perspiration into the air) because the air is saturated with water vapour - it can't take any more. If perspiration could take place, the heat is transferred into the air (which becomes powerful), while our body loses energy and makes our bodies cooler.