It’s certainly no surprise to us that the temperature is 90 degrees (Fahrenheit) by 9 AM — this happens every summer. But it shocks us every year when the lovely spring weather (last weekend it was in the low 70s) gives way to our blast-furnace summer norms. This is the season when the house air conditioner is a prerequisite for life, not merely a luxury.
The graph at right (click for a larger version) shows the past week’s temperatures (in red, left scale) and relative humidity (in green, right scale). Last Saturday the high was 64, Sunday it was 73. Each day this week got progressively hotter; yesterday peaked at 90 and today is predicted to be in the high 90s or low 100s. Last night the humidity never went over a few percent; this tells you that it is very dry indeed, and all the surface water has evaporated — this is what happens just before our hottest days.
I went out to work this morning quite early, to take advantage of the relative cool. But even at night it was 74, and the temperature spiked as soon as the sun rose. By 8:30, working with my Husqvarna weed-whacker, I was panting from the heat, sweating profusely, and feeling light-headed. I quit work outside for the day at 8:30 am! Tomorrow I plan to be out at daybreak (about 5:30 am) whacking away — it’s a good thing my neighbors are some distance away!
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