The map above, from Paul Douglas'
On Weather blog, shows the forecasted heat indexes yesterday. Here in Madison the actual heat index was 119, because of a dew point of 86! It was a day when you didn't have to water the garden while working - just lean over the plants and let your sweat drip onto them. But I got some nice
hollyhocks planted.
I spent ten years in Dallas and experienced many days hotter than this, but never a heat index this high - even I think during my years in St. Louis. Brutal.
Addendu: Oops, correction. It took me until now to realize that Paul Douglas was referring to Madison, Minnesota rather than Madison, Wisconsin. But it was also hot here.
To think, we've been complaining about not having had a 90 degree day yet in Oregon.
ReplyDeleteBut we don't see the sun either. I'd take a bit of heat if the sun would shine.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the heat index, what the air feels like, should be amended to reflect geographical differences and the acclimation tendencies of the indigenous populations. So 100 degrees and 86% humidity in Minneapolis, where few are acclimated to such conditions, yields a different heat index than the same conditions would in Houston. I think I may need a large grant to study this further.
ReplyDeleteI have no doubt that those of us "up north" are heat wimps, just as Houstonians may be cold wimps, but the factor I wonder about is wind or air movement. It is a primary determinant of winter wind chills, and subjectively it makes a big difference on a summer day.
ReplyDeleteOh gosh just look at all those 100's, too hot....
ReplyDeleteI noticed in his blog, he said "Minnesota summers are becoming more human".
ReplyDeleteI think he meant "humid".
I've left him a comment. Thanks for pointing it out.
ReplyDelete