Heat and Summer Green

Above, summer green down in the valley below Jamestown. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today marks the second day that I had to turn on the swamp cooler.

It was getting pretty warm indoors yesterday and today and I decided that it was time to make use of the swamp cooler. So I "fired it up" yesterday and everything worked just fine.

Right now, it is 88° outside. My thermometer jibes with The Weather Channel app I have on my phone, which also shows 88°.

Above, my thermometer shows 88°. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Normally, I would be outside on the deck enjoying the weather, but we have been getting swarms of gnats (one friend was overrun by them at a McGaffey Lake campground a few days ago). So, Sierra and I have been inside enjoying the swamp cooler today.

However, since we're now in monsoon season, we may be getting some thunderstorms over the next few days, including this evening. Last evening, as I was on the way home from the rodeo, I saw some lightning flashes in the distance.

The National Weather Service forecast:

This Afternoon

Isolated thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Southwest wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Little or no precipitation expected.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 53. Southwest wind 15 to 20 mph becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.

Friday

A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.

Friday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. South wind 5 to 15 mph.

Saturday

A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the morning.

Saturday Night

A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56.

Sunday

A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81.

Sunday Night

A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53.

Monday

A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 81.

Monday Night

A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55.