Dear Tom,
Our 6th grade classes are reading “Tuck Everlasting”. The author Natalie Babbitt talks about hot, humid August weather and mentions that these are the “dog days”. Why are they called the “dog days”?
Laura Kraseman, Cheryl Varys
Highland School, Downers Grove
Dear Laura and Cheryl,
The term “dog days” refers to the period of hot and humid summer weather that occurs in many parts of the Northern Hemisphere in July and August. The term dates back to ancient times when it was believed that Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky, located in Canis Major (The Great Dog) provided heat to the Earth. During late summer, Sirius is not visible because it rises and sets in conjunction with the sun, and the ancients thought the hot and sultry weather conditions were caused by Sirius, the Dog Star, adding its heat to that of the sun’s.
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Tom Skilling is chief meteorologist at WGN-TV. His forecasts can be seen Monday through Friday on WGN-TV News at noon and 9 p.m.
Write to: ASK TOM WHY, 2501 Bradley Pl., Chicago, IL 60618 or asktomwhy@wgntv.com (Mail volume precludes personal response.)
WGN-TV meteorologists Steve Kahn, Richard Koeneman and Paul Dailey plus weather producer Bill Snyder contribute to this page.
