So, it turns out that August is now officially my least favorite month. I’m not a fan of the heat. I can tolerate it, but would much rather have cooler weather all summer long. Oh well, every year I don’t get my way.

Most of this summer, we’ve had a big ridge of high pressure (associated with the hottest weather) in the jetstream situated over the west coast of the United States. That put us and much of the central and eastern U.S. in very mild summer weather. That has changed. The ridge has shifted eastward and unless you haven’t stepped outside at all lately you know what a difference the jetstream’s position can make.

So, how long will this pattern hold. That’s why I don’t like August. There’s not much to move the jetstream ridge out of the area this time of year. So, when stretches of hot weather move in like this, they’re usually around for a while. The most recent computer weather modeling indicates that there won’t be enough to move it out from our area through this weekend…and unfortunately next week looks just as hot.

Oh well, at least fall will be here before we know it. I’ll keep July 2009 as a fond memory of the way I wish summer always was.