« Emily Roars Ashore! |
Main
| Afternoon Delight »
The Dog Days of Summer
What are the "Dog Days" of Summer? Well, we're right in the middle of them! The dog days usually refer to the time between early July and early September. This is when the hottest and most humid conditions of the summer are usually in place.
So where does this time period get its name from? Well, as many of the full moon names... it comes from ancient times! Way back when, people would look to the stars... and try to explain things that were happening on earth through astronomy.
They saw many different images (constellations, that are still visble today) including bears, a bull... AND a dog!! This particular constellation is called "Canis Major".
Click to enlarge
The name means "Great Dog"... (Canis=dog, Major=greater). This is thought to be one of the hunting dogs of Orion... the second dog is "Canis Minor".
ANYway... THE brightest star in the sky (next to the sun) is IN Canis Major. That star is called Sirius, or "the dog star". It is actually the NOSE of the dog! Canis Major is visible during the winter months in the Northern Hemisphere. So what does that have to do with the dog days of summer, you ask??
Well, in the summer, Sirius rises and sets with the sun... this is especially pronounced during late July! People believed that it's powerful heat (Sirius is Greek for "scorcher") added to the heat of the sun, creating a stretch of hot and sultry weather. They named this period of time "Dog Days"... after the dog star!
Very interesting, right?! :)
Well, right on cue... we are going into our hottest period of the year over the next few days! Temperatures could be in the 100s by the weekend! We know that the heat from Sirius is really NOT what causes heat waves... instead we have a big ridge building in. You can see it on the weather map below, over the 4-corners region:
Click to enlarge
That ridge will be building our way over the next few days! Stay tuned for dog-day updates! :)
Jamie
Posted by at July 20, 2005 12:23 PM
************
I never knew that. Ive alaways wonderd why they were called the dog days of summer.
JOHN:
See what you can learn by reading the Action Weather Blog?!
Jamie :)
Posted by: John Moon III at July 20, 2005 2:25 PM
**************
Hi guys, We always watch your weather because I think it is the most accurate, informative and professionally done. We live 4 miles north of Warrensburg and have had less than and inch of rain in the past 10 weeks!* ugh ): Now with the heat really racheting up I'm worried about our trees and plants ... forget the lawn. We're not on a well so excessive watering is not an option. Any long range forecasts that suggest this will not last clear thru August and into September as it did in the summer of 1980?
LARRY:
While the next several days will be very hot and dry... we do NOT forsee this pattern continuing for the remainder of the summer! Next week we're already seeing signs of rain and cooler temperatures as the ridge moves east of us. Gary will have more on this tonight on NBC Action News at 5, 6 and 10pm!
Jamie
Posted by: Larry Cammack at July 20, 2005 3:19 PM
**************
I was wondering if anyone could tell me what the weather is like for the northland tonight? We have a Girl Scout camp going on in Holt and we have heard thunder. Could you please give us an update on the weather. We want to keep everyone safe. The girls have been playing in the pool as soon as we heard the thunder we got them out, but we need to know what chances of a thunder storm are. Thank you for your time and the AWESOME accuracy!
DANIELLE:
The thunder that you heard is associated with a weakening line of thunderstorms that is moving from north to south across the metro. If you do see rain, it will be brief... maybe 20-30 minutes or so. Gusty winds and lightning will also be possible... but after it's over, it should be over for the rest of the day!
Have a great time!
Jamie
Posted by: Danielle at July 21, 2005 2:56 PM
|
