Popularly, “the Dog Days of Summer” refer to the hottest and most humid portion of the summer season—the period extending from early July into mid August. It’s a time of relative inactivity and stagnation, and even the weather seems to slow down. That’s certainly the case right now.
Jet stream winds, important because they steer air masses and storm systems and, broadly speaking, keep weather systems moving along, have shifted north into Canada. Computer models say that’s not likely to change significantly in upcoming days.
Locally, the atmosphere has become lethargic. The remnant remains of Hurricane Dennis have stalled over the Ohio Valley and are gradually fading away. Lingering showers, too, are dissipating. Hazy, warm and humid air now in residence will stick around, and grow even warmer this week as the hot July sun works on it.
WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center staff provide daily coverage of weather in the Chicago area.
