How HOT is it where you are?

[cassiesmom]

7/15/14 at 2:35 PM CDT ... 64F (18C) with 63% humidity. It was overcast earlier, but it's sunny out now. Unusually cool for July in Chicago, perfect day to eat lunch outside.

[momcat]

It is a dark and stormy night here in Trenton. We've already had 2 heatwaves and almost non stop rain complete with thunder and lightning. The rain gets so heavy that visibility is near zero, it's like the Maid of the Mist boat ride at Niagra Falls. There have also been tornados in the area but aside from power outages and downed trees no major damage or injuries. Storm updates are constantly running across the bottom of the tv screen. Reports are saying that when the storms move out we can expect a "polar vortex" (meteorologist's words) with a significant drop in temperatures. I am not a summer person, oh to go back to January and February with the snow and the cold. Winter can't get here soon enough.

[Karen]

It is hot and muggy here, and has been for a couple days. We have had tornado and thunderstorm warnings and watches, but no rain yet this afternoon or evening. It is so muggy my arms stick to my glass desktop when I set them down!

[Catty1]

We've had a long heatwave; hopefully we'll have some showery relief Thursday and Friday. It'll be 84 F tomorrow and 82 F on Thursday!

I just rechecked the forecast. Chance of showers tomorrow afternoon now, with chance of a thunderstorm. The days after that? From Friday on, 71 to 75 F. That's better!

[pomtzu]

Oh yeah - hot, humid, and rain!!!!

I had to go to Baltimore yesterday for another appointment with my spine surgeon. The forecast was for "pop-up" thunder storms again - just like we've been having quite frequently lately. When I left doc's office to drive home (he's just north of Baltimore), the sun was out and it was steam bath like conditions - difficult to even breathe. I was on the interstate about mid way between Baltimore and Annapolis, and I noticed the sky was very dark ahead, and I was driving right into it. Within about 5 minutes, all hell broke loose, and it stormed worse than I've seen it in a long time. Lightening coming from every direction, and rain so heavy, I could barely see the hood of my car. From going 65+ mph on the interstate, to about 30 mph tops, for 15 or 20 minutes straight - I can only compare it to trying to drive thru the heavy, pounding rain, and feeling like I was in a carwash. The wipers even on high, were practically useless. People were pulling off the road because it was almost impossible to see, but I happened to be in a center lane and couldn't (safely) change lanes. The only way I could tell that I was staying in my lane, is that I followed the tail lights of the truck in front of me. When the sky finally started to brighten a little, then it was all over with and the sun was out again in just a couple of minutes, I practically had to peel my fingers loose from the vice like grip I had on the steering wheel. That whole scary episode - even tho only about 15 minutes or so - is more than I like to be part of. I HATE storms like that - especially if I have to be right in the middle of it.

[Catty1]

Ellie, I've been in snow like that while driving, and it is terrifying! The worst time I had was taking a mountain route years ago...and there was a semi in front of me, thank God!

It's 87.8 F here right now - that's +31 Celsius!

[pomtzu]

Yes Candace - I've had the blinding snow too. One time a blizzard set in while I was at work, and it had been snowing for several hours before they closed the place down. I only worked about 5 miles from the house, and it was just a 2 lane country road to get there and less than a 10 minute drive. Driving home was brutal - it took almost an hour - and the only way I could tell if I was actually on the road and not headed for the shoulder and some farmer's field - was to try to see the utility poles and follow them. Mother Nature can certainly play tricks on us, and probably sits back and laughs at us crazy people and how we cope with these tricks.

She redeemed herself today tho - it's one of those rare, beautiful summer days - and I won't be seeing any of her nastiness that I had to deal with a couple of days ago. Forecast is for temps in the low 80's, low humidity, and right now there is a beautiful clear blue sky with not a cloud in sight. It won't last tho,, but I'm not even going to check the extended forecast and let that ruin today for me.

I think Wolfy and I are going to head out to the beach a little later. I've been wondering how he'll like it, and today would be the perfect day to find out. Hope everyone out there is getting a break from the heat for at least one day.