NORFOLK, Va. — As temperatures soar and the sun blazes, we find ourselves in the middle of the "Dog Days of Summer." These next few weeks will give us heatwaves and lethargic afternoons, but what exactly are the “Dog Days of Summer?”
Well, every story needs its star, and this story’s star is Sirius.
While the dates vary from source to source, the term "dog days" generally refers to the 40 days beginning on July 5 and ending on August 11 when Sirius, the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major, aligns with the sun.
Canis Major translates to “Greater Dog,” so it’s no surprise that the brightest star in the sky, other than the Sun, would be called “Dog Star.”
In ancient times, the Greeks and Romans believed that this alignment contributed to the intense heat of summer. Sirius gave rise to the phrase "Dog Days," as it was thought that its conjunction with the sun added to the heat.
In Egypt, Sirius also coincided with the Nile River’s flood season, serving as a “watchdog” to the potential flooding.
Obviously, modern science has proven that Sirius has no effect on summer temperatures, but the concept of the “dog days” continues. Meteorologically, these days do coincide with some of the hottest temperatures of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
Hampton Roads, Virginia, is currently in our hottest stretch of the year, with our normal, or average, high temperature topping out at 90° from July 6 through July 22.