Some individuals are attracted to social media apps — whereas I am drawn to weather apps. I check weather apps more frequently than news apps. Weather apps tend to be less alarming compared to news apps, even during tornado season.
I don’t mean to boast, but I am informed about the anticipated highs, lows, and chances of rain for the next five days in three different states. It’s my way of experiencing low-cost travel.
Earlier today, I virtually visited the rocky coast of Maine, where it was 65 degrees with partial sun. After refilling my coffee, I virtually traveled to Charleston, South Carolina, experiencing the mid-afternoon heat. Following that, I virtually explored the boundary waters of northern Minnesota, where a jacket was needed.
I make it a habit to check the weather app every night before going to bed. I like being aware if a storm is approaching so I can open a window and listen to the rain, wind, and thunder.
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Every morning, I check the weather app to determine what to wear and how my hair will behave throughout the day.
If my partner wants to know the local three-day forecast, he consults me instead of checking his phone. I can inform him about past, present, and future temperatures and suggest watering the garden if necessary.
During my childhood, if anyone wished to know the weather, they would call the local bank, as most towns had a recorded line at the bank providing the time and temperature. It was rare for someone to check it as frequently as 30 times a day.
In the past, individuals serious about the weather would have a large instrument called a barometer hanging on the wall, often above the television. Talking about weather used to be a form of entertainment before the era of Netflix and Disney+.
A barometer was akin to a crystal ball. Those who knew how to interpret it could predict a storm’s arrival even before the storm itself. Some of these individuals later founded the Weather Channel.
One of the highlights of summer is the vivid language used to describe it. You can sweat bullets, buckets, or like a pig, even though pigs don’t sweat. Summer offers a range of culinary metaphors like roasting, frying, sizzling, melting, wilting, and baking.
On extremely humid days, my father-in-law used to say, “It’s close today.” Initially, I was puzzled by his statement, but after spending a week in the family’s century-old home with only window fans for cooling, I understood his meaning.
His phrase was essentially a variation of “It’s not the heat but the humidity.”
The phrase “Is it hot enough for ya?” should be prohibited forever under the threat of having your weather app disabled. If you find yourself asking that question, you already know the answer.
During times when the weather is scorching hot that even your weather app seems to be melting, always remember — winter will return sooner than you anticipate.
Lori Borgman is a columnist, author, and speaker. Her book, “What Happens at Grandma’s Stays at Grandma’s,” is currently available. For contact, email her at lori@loriborgman.com.
