We are truly in the heat of the so-called Dog Days of Summer. And while in reality some things are new under the sun, complaining about the heat isn’t one of them.
If you feel hot and tired of being hot, we here at Weather Or Not are obligated to tell you that’s the way you’re supposed to feel.
On average, these are the warmest days of the year in Philadelphia, with an average high of 86 from July 13 through Aug. 6, when it drops all the way to 85.
A subtle and unnoticed cooling trend does begin on July 29, when the average overnight low slips to 70, from 71.
So why are these called “Dog Days?” The concept dates to antiquity and is tied to the rising of Sirius, the “Dog Star.”
It is the best and brightest of the constellation Canis Major, which given the level of light pollution these days, you probably can’t see.
Sirius is 28 times brighter than our sun, and ancient Greeks and Romans believed that since Sirius and the sun rose together in late summer, they were working together to set off late-summer heat waves.
You’ll find a tidy Dog Day essay from the National Weather Service here. In all fairness, those ancient folks also had some good ideas.
Sirius, of course, has about as much to do with the heat as the moon.
By now, the midlatitudes of the Northern Hemisphere are well warmed. In addition, ocean temperatures have risen substantially. At last look, the water temperature was up to 77 off Atlantic City.
Warmer water means more evaporation, which means more moisture in the air. Moisture in the air keeps sweat from evaporating and cooling us off.
We are about to take refuge from the Dog Days by escaping to the White Mountains of New Hampshire. We’ll be back Aug. 6.
In the meantime, stay cool.
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