Severe thunderstorm warning
A severe thunderstorm warning is up, the inevitable closure to an extreme heat wave.
Weather amnesia is interesting. I’m not a big fan of the Journal’s cartoonist Ygreck, but his recent I’ll never complain about winter again cartoon sums it up. Right now it’s almost impossible to replay what it feels like in January, sleeping under heavy covers, wearing layers inside the house, looking outside to see only gray and white, unable to step outside without putting on more layers and special footwear. And I know that in January I wont be able to evoke the sensation of what it’s like right now. It’s like we’re two different people.
Ian 10:51 on 2025-08-13 Permalink
The intense and sudden petrichor I just smelled thrills me to my core
Kate 11:05 on 2025-08-13 Permalink
Wasn’t it wonderful?
jeather 11:14 on 2025-08-13 Permalink
As you might know (because it is one of my favourite facts and I share it a lot), humans are more sensitive to petrichor than sharks are to blood.
Tee Owe 11:16 on 2025-08-13 Permalink
IMO you can complain about the cold, or the heat, but not both –
jeather 11:31 on 2025-08-13 Permalink
I’m incredibly skilled, I can complain about both.
Tee Owe 11:43 on 2025-08-13 Permalink
OK, ha ha, point taken – how about, I will sympathize with one or the other, but not both – ?
jeather 11:50 on 2025-08-13 Permalink
It’s really hot when it’s still 33 degrees at 9 pm and it’s also really cold at -30.
Blork 12:04 on 2025-08-13 Permalink
It’s going up to 31C on Saturday but going down to 9C on Sunday night. Nine! I might stay up late that night just so I can walk around outside in shorts and a t-shirt and remember what it’s like to feel cold.
Kevin 12:26 on 2025-08-13 Permalink
I can’t explain how grateful I am that I got new windows and a door on my home this year.
For the past 17 years I’ve been spending summers melting, coming up with ways to stay cool, amd not sleeping at night even with a ceiling fan on full blast.
This year? It’s not the same house. The hot moist air is staying outside. My ACs are keeping everything at 23 or 24 degrees. I can actually raise blinds and not feel a blast of heat.
jeather 12:34 on 2025-08-13 Permalink
I am so excited for these upcoming cool nights.
Tee Owe 14:37 on 2025-08-13 Permalink
in case it wasn’t obvious my comments were intended humorously – I also find hot hot, and cold cold. But like Kate and Jeather wrote, it’s hard to feel bad about hot in January, or about being colder just now. It’s why we love Fall, no?
jeather 16:01 on 2025-08-13 Permalink
I agree that I would be really unsympathetic if anyone complained to me about the cool evenings that are coming up.
EmilyG 18:14 on 2025-08-13 Permalink
I’ve heard several people remark that they can’t imagine winter in summer, or vice versa. I agree. Though I wonder if this applies to people who live in a place with a cold winter, but take winter vacations to tropical areas.
maggie rose 23:03 on 2025-08-13 Permalink
One of the new excellent Vermont weather people on WCAX (weather so close to us it’s fun to watch & available on their website) used the word “refreshing” to describe the temps coming our way on Thursday & Friday. Such a simple word, yet so euphoric I can almost taste it. I can’t wait for even more refreshment on Monday & Tuesday. My building, with many tenants 55 and over, had a wellness check from SPVM tonight. Many don’t have AC here. I don’t know how they do it. Even with it, 4-5 days of the window ac rumbling and fans to spread the cool, gets old fast. Not to mention my hydro bill.
Mozai 00:47 on 2025-08-14 Permalink
The petrichor was so strong when the rain started that I had to stop walking and just cough. Tonight, I stood up from my work chair without creaking knees, without weak legs, without a moment of dizziness and wondered what in the sam hill.. then saw the thermometer in my kitchen and it said it’s only 28°C and ohhhh that’s why.
Kevin 11:13 on 2025-08-14 Permalink
@maggie rose
The new generation of window ACs has to be heard to be believed. U-shaped models are so quiet, even when on the highest fan setting, that you can sit next to them and have a conversation in a normal tone of voice.
MarcG 14:02 on 2025-08-14 Permalink
Last time I looked they only fit up-and-down windows which is an unfortunate limitation.
DeWolf 21:00 on 2025-08-14 Permalink
@maggie rose They were right. Even though it was not exactly chilly today (high of 27 I think?) it is so extremely pleasant that refreshing is the right word.
Re: air conditioning – having lived in a place where it’s ubiquitous and frankly abused, it really creates a dependence. People use it way more than they need. The u-shaped window models strike me as a pretty good solution because they don’t lock you in. If it’s pleasant enough to open the window, you still can.