By Todd Nelson, filling in for Douglas:
Welcome to the dog days of summer. It’s a phrase that describes the hot and sticky weather from July 3 to Aug. 11. Interestingly, the ancient Romans believed that a bright star called “Sirius” or the Dog Star (seen locally rising in the southeastern sky at dawn) was responsible for additional heat and thunderstorms during the peak of summer. Scandinavians used terms to describe this time of the year as “rot month,” when food and wounds spoiled more quickly. That sounds pleasant.
Thankfully, it hasn’t been overly oppressive as of late, but because of several large wildfires burning unchecked in Canada, our skies have been spoiled with thick smoke for several days. Visibility will improve a bit through early next week as the upper level steering winds push the most unhealthy air north.
A southerly wind will draw in warmer and more humid air during this first week of August with a few days of isolated rumbles, mainly across western and northern Minnesota.
Oh, and by the way, the Minnesota State Fair is only 18 days away!
