The ‘dog days of summer’ are here to stay
By Jared Shelton News-Press NOW meteorologist
The air has been heavy, afternoons long and temperatures high across the Mid-Missouri River Valley for what seems like an eternity. It’s official, the “dog days of summer” have arrived with the end of July, but what does this age-old phrase actually mean?
According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the dog days of summer are of ancient Greek origin, named for the rising of Sirius, also known as the dog star. The helical rise of Sirius refers to the time frame in which the star becomes visible on the eastern horizon just before dawn, governed by Earth’s orbit around the sun. The rising of Sirius takes place in late-summer, coinciding with stretches of sultry weather for much of the Northern Hemisphere, including Mediterranean Greece.
Because Sirius is one of the brightest stars visible from Earth aside from the sun, its rise was thought by the Greeks to contribute to periods of extreme summer heat, drought and even thunderstorm activity. The same star also carried a meteorological sentiment for ancient Egyptian societies who referred to it as “Sothis,” attributing the annual summer flooding of the Nile River to its appearance. A more positive association than that of the Greeks, as flooding of the Nile was generally a welcome event for its agricultural benefits.
Similar to the Greeks, today’s western connotation of the dog days of summer leans in a negative direction, more closely related to the fatigue that comes with days and days of sizzling heat and humidity that seem to drag by from one day to the next.
While waves of hot and humid air have periodically passed through Northwest Missouri this season, there are many more to come in the near future. Persistent upper-level ridging is forecast to take hold of the heartland and much of the U.S. over the next seven to 10 days. Upper-level ridging is known for producing consecutive days of above-average temperatures and lots of sunshine, as a broad area of high pressure creates a dome of heat due to the massive volume of compressed air, which acts as a giant pressure cooker.
Local temperatures have flirted with triple digits on several occasions over the past two months, but St. Joseph has yet to reach the century mark this year. The approaching heat wave has a fair chance at bringing the first 100-plus degree day of 2024, as the mercury steadily rises through much of next week. Triple-digit heat may not be the most sought-after milestone, but it’s a sure sign that the dog days of summer are very much upon us, and potentially here for an extended stay.
