# How are you prepping for the big heatwave coming in this weekend? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 18, 2019, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-prepping-for-the-big-heatwave-coming-in-this-weekend/837238 "2019-07-18T01:42:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2019, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-prepping-for-the-big-heatwave-coming-in-this-weekend/837238/41 "2019-07-18T22:55:04Z")
> [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](#): > > Sorry, but this is like me saying, while I’m shoveling snow out of my driveway, “Oh man, this is so much worse because someday soon there will be even more snow.” Or, “This phrase is horrible, and it’s so much worse because all the proofreaders have been laid off.” > > But forget that, focus on the panting cats. No it means that this current heat wave is worse than it would have been absent climate change. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-prepping-for-the-big-heatwave-coming-in-this-weekend/837238/42 "2019-07-19T00:29:01Z")
We’re getting out of town, heading up the coast (to Door County… yeah, not a real coast). When we get back, I might start sleeping on the basement floor. I often do that in the summer. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-prepping-for-the-big-heatwave-coming-in-this-weekend/837238/43 "2019-07-19T01:55:56Z")
I might actually have to work this weekend. If I do, it’s air conditioned. My wife Pepper Mill hates our air conditioners, so we mainly use fans (which do a surprisingly good job of cooling down our bedroom – I can suck in cool air from the shaded side of the house), but for this weekend she was persuaded to let me haul up the air conditioners from downstairs and put one in the bedroom and one in the living room. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-prepping-for-the-big-heatwave-coming-in-this-weekend/837238/44 "2019-07-19T06:42:42Z")
Couple of days ago we moved from very cold and wet Vic (Aus) to north-western Western Australia. Now technically it’s winter downunder, but the daily temps here are av 30c or 86f. Come summer the days will regularly hit 45+ (113f), and that is from Nov until April. Thankfully the apartment we’ve leased has ducted air-con and that is fully paid from our rent, so no nasty power bills. The complex also has a pool with shade-sails so on the worst of days we can just hang out there until the sun goes down I guess. MUCH better than the nasty frigid weather we left on Wednesday I tell ya. 🙂 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-prepping-for-the-big-heatwave-coming-in-this-weekend/837238/45 "2019-07-19T11:20:25Z")
> [@MacTech](#): > > 1; fellow Northerners, tell us how are you prepped/preparing for this brutal heatwave? SE Michigan here. Saturday’s heat index is supposed to hit 108. Wife and I went grocery shopping yesterday afternoon, so we won’t even have to leave the house over the weekend. But we will probably go for a walk on Saturday morning, before it gets stupid-hot. After that, it’s indoor activities: workshop projects, computer stuff, etc. I tend to cook out on the grill at least one night on the weekend during the summer months, but that’s not happening this weekend. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-prepping-for-the-big-heatwave-coming-in-this-weekend/837238/46 "2019-07-19T13:16:21Z")
> [@bump](#): > > FWIW, we’ve settled into the usual midsummer (mid-July through mid-late August) high pressure system, which means that it’ll mostly be really hot, with no rain, and not a whole lot of cloud cover until the pattern changes. My least favorite time of year. ☹ Apparently I spoke too soon… we’ve got a cold front showing up on Monday/Tuesday, and it’s supposed to drop our lows into the upper 60s, and we’ll have July highs below 90, along with the potential of rain! Having daytime highs in the 80s in July is shockingly low… almost unheard of in my experience. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-prepping-for-the-big-heatwave-coming-in-this-weekend/837238/47 "2019-07-19T16:28:03Z")
All I have to do is remember hiking through Horseshoe Canyon, in 123º heat. with very little shade. ---
**Author:** ![Marine\_One](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marine_one/32/3461_2.png) [@Marine\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marine_One)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-prepping-for-the-big-heatwave-coming-in-this-weekend/837238/48 "2019-07-19T18:42:40Z")
When I water my lawn in the morning, I’m VERY popular with the birds. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-prepping-for-the-big-heatwave-coming-in-this-weekend/837238/49 "2019-07-19T19:09:16Z")
[Ex-Giants offensive lineman Mitch Petrus dies of heat stroke](https://apnews.com/67c420825147415c9352c9c6bdad4275): > [@](#): > > Pulaski County Coroner Gerone Hobbs said Petrus died of heat stroke Thursday night at a North Little Rock hospital after working outside that day at his family’s shop near his hometown of Carlisle, which is about 35 miles (55 kilometers) east of Little Rock. > > Like much of the country, Arkansas is in the grips of an intense heat wave. The heat index — the temperature it felt like — in the area where Petrus was working on Thursday was higher than 100 degrees (38 Celsius), according to the National Weather Service. Be careful, folks. ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-prepping-for-the-big-heatwave-coming-in-this-weekend/837238/50 "2019-07-19T20:17:26Z")
It’s hot enough that Ms. P would probably turn on the AC even if the kids and I weren’t here. Now that’s hot. We’ve got a sweltering three days, followed by several days with highs in the eighties. I’m being careful about taking our old dog out. She doesn’t seem to mind staying in more than usual. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-prepping-for-the-big-heatwave-coming-in-this-weekend/837238/51 "2019-07-19T20:32:10Z")
I probably won’t mow my lawn, even though it needs it. I probably WILL stay indoors, with AC. I’ve had a fine time outdoors for hours in sub-freezing weather. I enjoy skiing, for instance. I’m not going to enjoy any time spent outdoors this weekend. ---
**Author:** ![AnalogSignal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/analogsignal/32/1085_2.png) [@AnalogSignal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnalogSignal)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-prepping-for-the-big-heatwave-coming-in-this-weekend/837238/52 "2019-07-19T21:03:06Z")
I had the central A/C serviced and just installed a mini-split A/C in the newly built sunroom. In past heat waves, the central A/C has been inadequate but I am hoping the mini-split will be more effective. Since my fridge doesn’t have an ice maker, I bought this nice little portable unit [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PHXLT17](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PHXLT17) so I can guzzle iced coffee and iced tea. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-prepping-for-the-big-heatwave-coming-in-this-weekend/837238/53 "2019-07-19T22:30:30Z")
More pet stuff: The OTHER five-second rule. Put the back of your hand against a surface. If it’s so hot you can’t hold it there for five seconds, it’s too hot for your dog to walk on. (Or cat, in case anyone is walking cats…ferrets, tigers. Any pet with pads on its feet.) Now I wasn’t going to continue this hijack but: > [@madmonk28](#): > > No it means that this current heat wave is worse than it would have been absent climate change. Sure that is probably what it means. That is not what it says. Literally. If the writer had written: “This heat wave is the first of many to come attributed to global climate change” I would have no quibble. Like, “It is a bad heat wave. It’s because of climate change that it’s a bad heat wave. Without climate change it wouldn’t have been as [hot/long].” ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-prepping-for-the-big-heatwave-coming-in-this-weekend/837238/54 "2019-07-19T22:38:26Z")
Darn, missed the edit but not by much. Just to note, right before composing the above post I hung sheets on my clothesline. The pillowcases and flat sheet are now dry. The fitted sheet will be dry in about five more minutes. My heat wave is forecast to be over tomorrow, and I am enjoying the hell out of it while it lasts. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-prepping-for-the-big-heatwave-coming-in-this-weekend/837238/55 "2019-07-19T23:37:38Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Tell you what, I’ll put on shorts and a T-shirt and stay outside for 8 hours now, and then in the winter, when it’s 5 degrees outside, you can put on whatever you want and stay outside for 8 hours. Deal? grew up in lovely southern tier Western NY state sledding out of the third floor attic windows in the winter. Not a problem. I had spent many many many enjoyable days in weather that cold and occasionally in different parts of the country colder, and even winter camped in ‘primitive’ conditions [snow tunnel camping and an occasional igloo] What I hate is heat … you can only get so naked before you start either being arrested for indecent exposure or peeling off layers of skin and muscle. I really really hate sweaty hot skin on skin contact, sweat trickling down my back, between my breasts and down my buttcrack. Unfortunately we have errands that need to be done tomorrow, but as soon as we get home it will be cold shower time. Got cold foods ready [[Russian Salad,](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olivier_salad) makings for Cobb Salad, leftover fried chicken, sandwich makings] ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-prepping-for-the-big-heatwave-coming-in-this-weekend/837238/56 "2019-07-20T02:26:02Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Tell you what, I’ll put on shorts and a T-shirt and stay outside for 8 hours now, and then in the winter, when it’s 5 degrees outside, you can put on whatever you want and stay outside for 8 hours. Deal? I’ve done that plenty of times, it’s a little activity called Alpine Skiing 😉 Back in my college days (late ‘90s ) we were skiing at Crotched Mountain NH, a little local ski slope that was under 2,000’ vertical (very small mountain), the _STILL_ air temperature at the summit was -52 Farenheit! it was _GREAT_, we basically had the whole mountain to ourselves for the entire day and into the evening (as they had night skiing as well), we were completely bundled up, had no skin showing (frostbite would set in in less than 5 minutes at that temperature), and we had a great time, were very warm and comfy back around 2004-2006 when I lived in Vermont, one winter season we had a _MONTH_ where the still air temps never got above -30 F, once again, as long as you were properly bundled up, no big deal. extreme cold is no biggie as long as you’re prepared. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-prepping-for-the-big-heatwave-coming-in-this-weekend/837238/57 "2019-07-20T03:14:26Z")
> [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](#): > > CNN: “Experts say the heat wave is only made worse by the ongoing threat of climate change…” > Okay, I happen to love hot weather, but I do feel for all y’all who are not so comfy in the heat. But that sentence. How is a heat wave made worse by a threat? Like the man said, this was poorly phrased. But in fact, what may have been the intended phrasing, that climate change has made this heat wave worse than it otherwise would have been, is not accurate either, since that’s not provable and may not necessarily be true. The accurate statement is neither of those, but rather the scientifically supportable statement that certain extreme weather events, such as extreme heat waves, more energetic storms, and stronger storm surges, are becoming statistically more and more probable due to climate change. The balance of what is “normal” is gradually shifting, and that’s the real point. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-prepping-for-the-big-heatwave-coming-in-this-weekend/837238/58 "2019-07-20T21:21:42Z")
We just returned from pontooning the Allegheny River. It was hot, but no different really than any other July/August day. The dogs and my gf enjoyed swimming, and I got raised eyebrows for _not_ swimming. I love being _on_ the water, but almost never go _in_ the water. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2019, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-prepping-for-the-big-heatwave-coming-in-this-weekend/837238/59 "2019-07-22T04:00:46Z")
> [@digs](#): > > We’re getting out of town, heading up the coast (to Door County… yeah, not a real coast)… Just wanted to report that it worked. Heat index at home was over 100, but we drove a couple of hours and suddenly it was almost 30º degrees cooler with a cold breeze. The trick is, we were surrounded by water (Door County is the little pinkie hanging off Wisconsin into Lake Michigan). ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2019, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-prepping-for-the-big-heatwave-coming-in-this-weekend/837238/60 "2019-07-22T09:24:46Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Just wanted to report that it worked. Heat index at home was over 100, but we drove a couple of hours and suddenly it was almost 30º degrees cooler with a cold breeze. > > The trick is, we were surrounded by water (Door County is the little pinkie hanging off Wisconsin into Lake Michigan). That’s a trick I use as well. I take the boat out on hot days. I claim it’s always 10 degrees cooler on the water. I have to eat some of my earlier scoffing words about the heat being no big deal. We moved one of my kids yesterday (via pickup and Uhaul trailer). I had to stop repeatedly and get inside to cool off. It was 98 (on my house thermometer) when we were unloading. I guess it’s a bigger deal for me in my 60s than in my 40s or 50s. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-prepping-for-the-big-heatwave-coming-in-this-weekend/837238.md?page=2)