Finally today we have it a bit cooler--32C feels quite mild after the 40+ we've had for more than a week.

Hopefully the drop in temperature will help with all the forest fires in BC. There aren't any too close to us right now, and the wind has blown most of the smoke to someone else. What we really need, though, is rain.

Lightning was striking in the valley several days ago, and, as far as they can determine, was the cause of our historic hotel burning to the ground. It was too bad, as it is was over 100 years old, one of the first buildings in town. On the other hand, it was also attached to the liquor store, which won't be missed at all

Oh dear, I'm sorry to hear about your town's hotel, aileth! That's so sad. I can't imagine that the liquor store being right next door helped with the fire very much. Hopefully they'll be able to rebuild it someday, sans spirits.

I saw a photo the other day of a kayak hit by lightning. Just incredible how much damage a lightning strike can do.

I guess I wouldn't care much about the hotel (aside, I suppose, from feeling badly for the owners) but I did some research on the old buildings here when I worked for the museum a few years back, so there's a measure of attachment. No one was hurt, though, and it was a separate building, so it could have been worse.

Does incinerated describe that kayak? And look at the poor dock as well. I'm just surprised that there was anything left. Talk about heat!

Our thermometers are reading 42C (*goes off to do quick little calculation* 107F)

I break into a sweat just reading that.

I'm definitely enjoying some free air conditioning right now, as temperatures sink to about 50F/10C overnight before a return to heat and humidity this weekend.

Yes, this July has been very manageable, in terms of no drawn-out hot, humid, dry weeks on end. I can handle this. In fact, the temperature right now—mid-July!!!—is 65F. That is quite unheard of in our area for this month.

IloveFauns, does that mean you go nowhere without an umbrella?

Rose, that is quite the photo of the lightning-charred canoe, whoa!

So, while we are to get a few days of humidity next week, the nights (with the exception of Wednesday) are not supposed to stay too hot (yay!), giving some relief, and, for me, it makes a difference if the sun is not beating down. There is to be a mixture of sun and cloud the coming week, as well as showers periodically, so I think I can last this spell. But the end of July (our hottest month, and the worst for me) is not far away, so here's to autumn in sight!

And because every few days we have had some good rain this summer, the gardens are doing amazingly.

Finally able to find the time to hope on for a bit. The Mrs., and I have been enjoying at least some of the relativly mild weather by doing some landscaping around the Wig-wam. Today was the exception, with humidity building throughout the day, and the temp spiking around 90F. Thankfully the breeze was fairly constant
Tomorrow is supposed to be the worst in heat, and humidity, and then the storms are supposed to roll in late in the afternoon. News from the cities says possible straight-line winds, to take down some more branches around the house. So I am glad I found a deal on a chipper-shredder.

I remember the word wig-wam from a native american history lesson in high-school but what is it?

It has been raining here for the last week. I had to go to the shop and since the wind was coming towards me my umbrella only kept the top half of me dry.

42C I consider very hot and that is coming from an Australian. We usually get about 3 weeks at 38-40 in january. Than it hovers around 30-35 to march.

IlF, you say it is very wet in Perth at this moment. But although the weather charts all predict rain will come here, it always manages to miss us. The weather is quite chilly, especially in the evenings and early mornings, with wind coming off the mountains and tablelands. And we have had snow as close as 50 km away.

But it is dry here. As dry as a bone. Water restrictions coming up, probably. All these people who get snow all the time, just how cold does it have to be to get snow, I wonder?

Oh summer/spring water restrictions. I don't have a garden so it makes little difference to me. Though when I lived at home I was taking the garbage bins out and they came on just as i was doing it, I was soaked holding up a pair of shorts that were few sizes too big(I was doing my washing and they were all I had to wear that could be ruined) and the heaviness of the water made it worse and than a gang of kids came past laughing at me as a bad of my rubbish was blown down the road and I had to chase after it. Than I got inside and the fuse went which meant I had to return to the front yard to get to the box to fix it. Yes it was a long ordeal.

So that is my odd reason why I hate water restrictions. Well I hate the time aspect. The concept is good and must be done of cause.

As I look outside, I see sprinklers watering front lawns that were submerged in water just a few weeks ago.

Here in the "Land of 10,000 Lakes" watering restrictions, if any, are usually imposed to reduce the stress on the infrastructure (odd/even watering, for example). In times of serious drought (like the summer of 1988, for example), quite stringent restrictions could be imposed.

After our relatively cool summer so far, the heat is on today, with highs expected to reach around 94F/34C. With dew points getting into the low 70s F (22C), heat indices could reach 100F/38C or more.

The problem is that this air is so thick and wet you just can't sweat, and to me it feels a lot more uncomfortable than 100F in a desert area.

I remember the word wig-wam from a native American history lesson in high-school but what is it?

Loosely speaking it refers to Native American homes of the past. Check it out here.

All these people who get snow all the time, just how cold does it have to be to get snow, I wonder?

It can snow (ah, what a wonderful thought right now in high summer!) even if the ground temperature is above freezing (0C) - say, below around 40F/4C. Usually this brings those big, wet heavy snowflakes that either melt on contact with the ground, or turn into rain or sleet as they approach the ground.

In this part of North America we have two main types of snowstorms (broadly speaking) - Alberta Clippers, which are quick-moving cold storms from Canada that usually bring just a few inches/cm of dry fluffy snow, and those that dip to the south and come north bearing lots of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico. These can bring lots and lots of wet, heavy snow and are often followed by a quick cold spell that turns that slush into something like concrete.

Nothing like talking about snow on the hottest day of the year so far.

Oh, and only 55 days till the start of our possible snow season.

stargazer beat me to the punch, so-to-speak. Other than the reference given by C.S. Lewis in the "Silver Chair", I myself am loath to admit my knowledge of what a wig-wam was was, well, limited. (try saying that fast five times )
I finally received proper education on the matter from an encampment up in Canada. there was a very detailed wig-wam built in the tipi-style. the outer layer was of Birch bark, layered much like one would shingle a roof. Inside, the floor was covered in furs for bedding, except the center where the hearth was. Under the fur was a layer of short needled evergreen branches. I am sorry, but I forgot the specific tree. This was to discourage rodents, and lizards from crawling around under the bedding. Apparently the scent also deterred most insects as well.
On the topic of weather. It was nasty hot, and humid today. High reaching 90F+, with humidity also in the 70's.
It's looking more like we might just get a bit of rain, with nothing nasty. Most of the drastic stuff is staying North, but then, how often can we really trust in the experts?

Tomorrow is supposed to be the worst in heat, and humidity, and then the storms are supposed to roll in late in the afternoon.

Same here, only a day later, as is the pattern. Today is hitting the worst (102.2 with the heat index), then storms come tomorrow, bringing welcome relief, hurrah! Some humidity is expected to return on the weekend, but not nearly so hot as this.

I had to go to the shop and since the wind was coming towards me my umbrella only kept the top half of me dry.

Oh my. I shouldn't laugh, but I can relate. That kind of rain is so driving and, erm, wet.

The problem is that this air is so thick and wet you just can't sweat, and to me it feels a lot more uncomfortable than 100F in a desert area.

Yep. I remember our summer time in Kansas, and whilst it was hot, since there was little humidity most days, it just did not feel as miserable. Not that I like the heat either, but sans moisture is at least a tad more bearable.

Ahhh, I love reading about snow in this heat.

As for watering restrictions, it has not been at all necessary this summer, as we have had very decent amounts of rain every few days or so (very nice!), but during those hot, hot summers where we have 10-12 days of no precipitation, the city requests even/odd watering.

Interesting reading about wigwams. We are kind of used to them up there in terms of history, and they are represented in every re-enacted Indian village. Very cool about the scent repelling insects.

I can hardly believe July is coming to an end next week, and, apart from the odd day or two, this has not felt at all like our typical summers of late. So manageable. (Except for today. )

I was going to purchase a bicycle to ride to work when I start next week. The rain ruined that idea, hopefully we have a clear day before Monday so I can do it. Looking at the weather tomorrow is my best chance, only 40% chance of rain than 90% chance for the next three days.

Automatic sprinklers are the pits, aren't they, IlF? At least, in circumstances like that. Sometimes I think they just lurk there, waiting for some poor innocent to walk by. Then they pounce. Hope you manage to find a clear spot for bike shopping.

The rain came today, preceded by terrific gusts of wind. Got to pull everything loose before soaking it, you know. And then it poured. A welcome relief after the heat wave we've been having--it cut the temperature in half. I just hope that it's not the signs of an early fall. In spite of some people who love snow *looks at johobbit * I'm not quite ready for it yet.

Yes I got my bike today and managed to get there and back. Clear skies today so I am happy about that. Though I nearly died riding the bike up this hill. That is when I realized how long it had been since I had ridden a bike.

I kind of like midrange temperatures myself(early to mid twenties is good), though some countries may consider that hot. I love when the news says " Britain has experience a heat wave, it was 28C". I don't complain until it gets to 32C.

Yay about your bike/bike-riding, IlF, especially sans precipitation.

In spite of some people who love snow *looks at johobbit *

*grins back*

We have had so much rain lately. Beautiful thunderstorms too. Last night was a doozer, and the pool is now almost overflowing. There has been flooding reported in Toronto. Yesterday was nastily humid, but the storm cleared all that, and today through the next few days are below normal—lovely, in fact—as in around 20C/68F with more rain/showers through Wednesday. It is going down to 13C/55F for the next few nights. Yeah, autumn, here we come. Of course, many would argue we have hardly even had a summer, and that is very true. But I'm not complaining. We are nearly through our hottest month of the year, so we shall see what August is like.