We're having a heat wave! (Updated)

I remember a heat wave, similar to this current one we are experiencing, occurring back in the mid-70s. At that time the family had recently moved into a newly-built house in the Fort Creek subdivision. I recall that my parents discussed having central air installed while the house was being built, but decided against it. After all, we hardly ever had more than a few really hot days each summer.

And then the heat wave hit. A week or so of over-80 degree (Fahrenheit) temperatures had my mother reconsidering their decision regarding central air. She went so far as to call around for a couple of quotes, but was dissuaded by the cost (the house had electric baseboard heating, so ductwork would have to have been installed, too).

Then the heat wave passed, and all thoughts of air conditioning were forgotten… until the next heat wave. Fortunately, there was quite a span between them, and none lasted too long.

But I’m beginning to wonder.

There are those who scoff at the notion of "global warming" — or, more accurately, "climate change" — but while the overall average temperature may only have risen a degree or two over the past several decades, it sure seems like the peaks have gotten higher and more frequent.

In a similar vein, when my parents were purchasing new cars, the salespeople were often quick to suggest air conditioning as an option. Of course, back them, "factory air" was rare, and in most cases it was a dealer-installed option.

Still, my parents couldn’t justify the extra expense nor, after it was introduced, the $100 tax. After all, they were only in the car long enough drive to work, to run a few errands, or go to church. Rolling the windows down was a far cheaper option, and worked quite well.

Then I bought one of my parent’s cars from them, and moved to Southern Ontario. One doesn’t appreciate the true benefits of having air conditioning in one’s car until one is crawling along the westbound Gardiner heading home from work. Even running errands in a larger city like London, Mississauga or Hamilton can take much longer than it does here, and the benefits of having this option — or drawbacks of not having it — become abundantly clear.

Now, I have often stated that I find people to have rather short memories when it comes to weather. Sure, most can recall major events — like the gale that sunk the Edmund Fitzgerald, or the snowstorm that collapsed a section of the Station Mall roof, for example — but their year-to-year comparisons tend to be less precise. So, naturally, a lot of people will be saying they can’t remember a hot spell like this one, even if this one isn’t that unusual.

In checking Environment Canada’s Climate Data Almanac for July 31, I found that the highest temperature recorded on that date here in Sault Ste Marie (between 1945 and 2006) was 35.6°C (96.1°F), during the heat wave of 1975. Interestingly, three years later we recorded the lowest temperature for that date, a mere 5°C (41°F). I don’t recall that cold spell.

Note: Environment Canada shows the above-mentioned data in the Climate Data Almanac, however clicking on the "Record Values" link in the daily weather yields somewhat different results: Highest 33.9°C in 1975 / Lowest -2.8°C in 1947 (Brr-r-r-r!).

For the record, the average high and low temperatures for that date are 24.3°C (75.4°F) and 12.0°C (53.6°F), respectively.

But I digress.

Whether or not this weather is indicative of climate change, or simply an aberration as occurs from time to time, the fact is that it was bloody hot today!

With that in mind, let’s talk about ways to cool off.

Obviously having air conditioning at home helps. It also contributes to a high demand on the Province’s electrical generation and importation capacity.

Heading to a mall is good. These facilities will have the a/c running anyway, so why not share in the benefit of it, with the added bonus of not adding to the electrical demand situation. Maybe you could take in a movie while you're there?

Heading to the beach, or one’s favourite "swimming hole" can be quite refreshing. There is the drawback of spending the time getting there and back in the car (hopefully air-conditioned) and burning a few litres of gas. But, back when I did have a vehicle, that was probably my favourite way to cool off. It does, however, require one having the day off from work.

Hopefully if one is at work, and unable to take the day off, you will have air conditioning there. Unfortunately, many workplaces do not have this luxury, and some are worse than others. Spending a day like today reaching into a 315°C (600°F) pizza oven, or pouring 1200°C (2200°F) molten iron is anything but a treat. Take my word for it.

What I have enjoyed during this heat wave — which is somewhat unusual for a July hot spell — is that the overnight temperatures are dropping down into the mid-teens, making it reasonably comfortable for sleeping. I can recall a few previous heat waves here where this was not the case, and the temperature hovered in the high-20s to low-30s overnight.

August has always been my favourite summer month, at least as far as temperature goes. The days are usually pleasantly warm, if even sometimes a bit too warm, but with cool nights. Even in Southern Ontario this was the case. The downside of August however, for me, is the shorter days.

I can’t help but wonder, though, if come January or February, when we’re all complaining about the cold and the snow… will we remember complaining about how hot and humid it was in July?

Probably not.

But… that’s just my opinion.

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Just a personal thought about air conditioning.

As epc suggests, individuals make a very tiny demand on the overall electrical system, especially as compared to "big businesses and companies."

But look at it this way... there are 12+ million residents in Ontario. We can guesstimate that to be 3 million households. If even one-quarter of them use a single window a/c unit, that would be 750,000 of them running. Perhaps another one-quarter to one-half may have central air.

That may still be less, overall, than businesses and corporations, but it becomes a significant number nonetheless.

If everyone using a window or central a/c unit sets the temp at 24° or 25° (Ont Hydro is suggesting 26°), instead of 21°, we can reduce the demand on the electrical system significantly.

As epc mentioned, stores and malls have turned off unnecessary lights, AND many have adjusted their a/c temps up a few degrees, too.

I'm not saying anyone should feel guilty for using an a/c, but just reminding those who do to use them wisely.