WINONA, Minn. – Hotter and hotter, that’s been the trend with afternoon highs as of late – and dreadful humidity. The National Weather Service expects Winona area highs to peak at 94 Thursday, then retreat a little to the high 80s for the weekend. Don’t expect the humidity to abate. The warnings are out for the usual precautions – drink a lot, don’t overexert.
Why the canine reference?
Ancient Greeks invented the term “Dog Days of Summer.” Actually “κυνάδες ἡμέραι kynádes hēmérai.” They saw the 40 days from July 3 to August 11 on the modern calendar as a time of bad luck and drought and political tensions. Why “dog days”? The constellation Canis Major, which translates as “Big Dog,” rises in Northern Hemisphere skies in late summer. It’s easy to spot. The main star is Sirius, which is the brightest star from Earth other than our Sun. Now you know.
