[Rushmore Rocks]

Ian, weird weather here in So. Dak., too.

It is now 109 degrees in Rapid City. At our house, elevation about 5000 ft., it is 103. I've lived here 30 years and have never seen it this hot in the higher Black Hills. Most people around here do not have air condioning, so this is quite a shock for us.

Still better than a hurricane. Having lived in coastal Louisiana, I know about those.

[nwctwx]

That is quite rare up in that region... Models have been showing an extreme heat ridge setting up over the central part of the U.S. in the coming week (similar to the 1995 wave that killed so many in Chicago). High heat in the mid-section seems to correlate rather well to an active hurricane season, as was also the case in 1995. Of course, the winter following was one for the record books for snow in the Northeast. I guess it will all be worth it if we get a repeat of that. ;-)

Hope you stay cool, no A/C here in the hills of CT either, but we really should have it. I have not seen it top 100 here once in the 8 summers I've been here though.