Ah, turns out there's a Heat advisory out for northwest, west-central Minnesota. From Minnesota Public Radio:
Today is shaping up as a real cooker across much of Minnesota. Forecasters say temperatures are expected to reach into the mid-90s, with dew points in the low to mid 70s.
Since I recently returned from a vacation where the daily temp avg'd in the mid-90s and the humidity was set to, "So this must be what a bayou feels like...", I have to admit I was hoping for a teensy bit cooler weather here in the land of 10,000 lakes.
Are you embracing the heat or shrinking from it? Want to remind your fellow friends and gatherers of your favorite hot-weather tips? Join in here in the comments or share your own articles. Mine today: Since I shouldn't have to remind anyone about not leaving pets in a parked car, I'll focus on the car itself. Watch that engine temp gauge!
____________________
Julia Schrenkler
New Media Interactive Producer
Minnesota Public Radio
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Is corn to blame for high humidity?
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Comments: 26
Blame the corn!
And the lakes!
I live in Minneapolis and it's often either too hot or too cold, and can change as quickly as the jet stream.
Well Diana that sounds like a lovely use for the mint in the backyard...but you think there might be a semi-acceptable substitute for rum, so as to make a non-alcoholic version?
Melinda you don't have to ask twice. It's possible Minnesotans would love to export humidity. You staying cozy, though?
"Remember when you called to tell me about the Margaritas on the patio in the middle of January?"
I'm sure our Kitties will be happy when this blows over. It's like someone let off nerve gas as they just lie around on the linoleum.
Ah, Frick, but without a window unit in place you miss out on the joys of lifting it into that knuckle-scraper of a window and possibly gaining a bird tenant. That reminds me to share pictures of the bird's nest discovered under the AC...
And, yes, we miss out on the knuckle scraping, the unit nearly falling out of the window and the cursing that usually ensues.
It's a nice mid 80's where I am, with a little cloud covering the sun every so often. It shouldn't get too bad. We only have the house fan on, it pulls the air through the house quite nicely. We've only had the airconditioner on once this summer, when it got unbearably humid inside and out. Our house is built on the highest point in our town, where the wind is all we need to stay cool...
I must say, I'm awfully glad I had central air put in a couple years back (after my old furnace died). I don't use it much, except at night for safety's sake (so I can lock the windows) and during times like this, when the dewpoint is so miserably high. Normally, though, I throw open all the windows, drink lots of cold beverages, and wear next to nothing.
And I've got all the blinds closed on the east and south side in the morning and the west side and south side closed in the afternoon. But then I also have air conditioning and water with ice in it, good stuff that ice.
I remember it being 115 more than once when I was a kid, but it was dry, and hot in southern california
Duckie this is downright poetic of you: "Our house is built on the highest point in our town, where the wind is all we need to stay cool..."
Thanks for the wardrobe tip, Zeldapie. BTW, I'll flag you when I have those bird nest images up.
Richard B - funny you should mention ice. It really is the affordable luxury, isn't it? Isn't there a book about ice and the ice business?
Yes, temperature is important, but dewpoint is the key.
Guess who pays the NSP bill.
I'll have a mojito, please, with plenty of rum.
"Guess who pays the NSP bill." - M M. Say, M M., guess who isn't alone in calling it the NSP bill? It will ALWAYS be the NSP bill! Hope you two can find a happy medium. That sounds like some local movie theaters. When going to the Highland theater I joke I'll need to wear a tank top under a down jacket. Man, that place swings the therm.
You've mentioned that before Frick, but I've never heard the rest of the story. Tell us how you got started playing pop in the popsicle section!
Has anyone heard of the Savers Switch program through Xcel Energy? They install a device on your air conditioner that automatically shuts it off for 15 minutes of every hour (the fan continues to run) thereby saving energy and possibly preventing brownouts or blackouts in the neighborhood. Plus, your energy bill is discounted 15% from June through September.
We don't actually use the air conditioning too often (except on days like today!) but so far, I haven't noticed any difference in the coolness of the house.
I also use that saver switch from Xcel, but up here I just get 15% off the electric side of my bill all year.
Diana, the Saver Switch from Xcel is worth it whether you use your AC a lot or not. They cut 15% off your bill. The only draw back is if your AC is undersized or not charged properly or if you come home from work and want to cool a house down quickly that hasn't been cooled all day. It only cuts off the juice to your condensing unit, the furnace fan still blows, the coil still will be cold for some time and still strip water out of the air.
I'll have a Summit Pale Ale, please.