Dog Days of Summer are Here

The "Dog Days of Summer" are almost here. The dog days of summer conjure up sultry, steamy afternoons where 2 legged and 4 legged friends strive to be cool. It's a thirsty time of year when days are devastatingly hot. The dog days of summer officially begin on Wednesday, July 22nd. Ruff ruff. Historically, the Greeks and Romans declared this the period when the star Sirius begins to rise before the morning sun. Sirius, the brightest star in the sky is part of the constellation Canis Major, meaning the greater dog. The Greeks and Romans connected this with heat, drought, sudden thunderstorms, lethargy, fever, mad dogs and bad luck. But here in America, it's typically the hottest time of the year. While later this week there will be the hottest temperatures so far this year, there are also thunderstorms in the forecast that will cool things back down. Tuesday will be hot, sunny and dry with highs in the 80s to low 90s. Wednesday could become the hottest day of the year so far as highs reach the 90s across most of the state. A few late afternoon thunderstorms will push through southwest Montana and could come close to Helena and Great Falls late in the day. Thursday will have more widespread shower and thunderstorm activity. With the moisture and mostly cloudy skies, temperatures will be cooler in the 70s and 80s for highs. Friday that system will clear with mostly sunny skies and highs down in the 80s. A few isolated storms are possible over southern Montana. Saturday will be similar with mostly sunny skies, highs in the 80s, and a few thunderstorms just south of Helena and Lewistown. Early next week another warmup is likely to push temperatures back into the 90s. 'Tis the season for the dog days...
Have a great day.
Curtis Grevenitz