We are in the middle of what I call the Big Bake. I liken it to being in an oven for a long period of time. I would argue that this is the roughest weather period for Mississippians.
Day and night, high and low, the average Mississippi temperature for the year is 68 degrees. Just perfect. But we have some extremes in there.
The cold weather in Mississippi lasts two months, but the hot weather lasts four months.
I asked my golfing buddies the other day whether it’s more pleasant playing golf in July or January. Two said July. Two said January. There you go.
It’s been a month since the longest day of the year on June 21. Since then, the sunrise is 16 minutes later, and the sun is setting seven minutes earlier. That’s 23 minutes less daylight than the summer solstice. But it’s not any cooler, why is that?
It’s called the lag effect. Once you get a pot of water to boil, it doesn’t take that much incremental heat to keep it boiling. Same with weather temperatures.
Things will start to change by mid-August. First, the humidity drops. There’s just not as much moisture in the ground after two months of hot temperatures. Heat index only adds a few degrees in late August compared to 10 plus degrees in June and July.
By mid-August, there’s an hour less of daylight than on June 21 and the weather cools just the tiniest bit. At least one day in late August, you’ll get just the slightest wistful hint of fall.
Mississippi is truly hot in June and July, much hotter than the equator. People think the farther south you go, the hotter it gets but that would be wrong. Summer days in Mississippi can be 14 hours long. At the equator, there’s never more than 12 hours of sunlight.
Add Mississippi’s low altitude and high humidity and Mississippi summers are about as hot as anywhere in the world by heat index standards, although Houston, Austin and San Antonio are even hotter. A few places in the Middle East, Phoenix and certain cities in India and China are competitive with Jackson by heat index standards.
Ironically, the American north can be even hotter than Mississippi during the absolute peak of summer, but just for a few weeks. Again, that’s because the northern days are even longer than in the south.
Thank you, Lord, for air conditioning. Mississippi needs a special holiday for William Carrier, the inventor of air conditioning. Air conditioning started the southern population boom which is still going on.
So far this year, my AC is doing great. Every year, my AC company tells me I need to buy a whole new system for $30,000. I just point to my 1965 Mustang in my driveway, and the salesman gets the message. An AC system has dozens of components, all with different lifespans. I just fix what breaks. There’s no telling how old my AC system really is. Some parts are brand new. Some parts are ancient.
If there is one key part to keeping current, it’s the capacitors. They kickstart the AC into operation. If your AC is out, there’s a good chance it’s the capacitor—not an expensive part.
A key to being content is counting your blessings. AC in the summer gives me a great opportunity to do this. My wife Ginny will tell you that I am constantly saying, “Thank you Lord for AC.”
It truly is amazing we can sleep in utter cool comfort in the middle of July in Mississippi. I would argue the average Mississippian of today has far more creature comforts than the richest kings of the Middle Ages.
My house is 70 years old and it’s a bit drafty. In one room with high ceilings, mold will start to form in the summer. AI tells me I need ceiling fans. Instead, I have three dehumidifiers running, and that seems to do the trick. It is truly amazing how much water these dehumidifiers suck out of the air during the summer. Gallons every day. In the winter, you can go months without having to empty one.
That’s how much difference temperature has on humidity. People often think of hot humid air as being heavy. In fact, it’s the opposite, it’s light. That’s because air is twice as heavy and dense as water vapor. When temperatures are cooler, there’s no room for water vapor in the air. When it’s hot, the air expands and gives water vapor a chance to mix with the air.
I still play singles tennis at 4:30 p.m. on Thursdays. Typically, there’s nobody on any of the courts at River Hills except of few kids and my partner Albert Lyle, who just turned 89.
A few weeks ago he told me about his birthday and I said, “Let me take you and Ary Jane out to Bravo.” We did and were joined by others and had a wonderful night. I think we knew half the people in the restaurant. That’s a blessing of being able to put down roots in a state that values friendship and community.
Albert was number one in the world for his age group when he turned 85. He’s very much looking forward to turning 90 and being number one again in the 90s age group. I’m rooting for him. Just incredible—89 and playing singles in 105 heat index. And let me tell you, forget about trying to drop shot him. He moves like a gazelle. I’m just hoping some of that fountain of youth rubs off on me.
Albert’s an amazing athlete and in the Mississippi Tennis Hall of Fame. He is also responsible for introducing soccer to Mississippi. He started the first teams in the schools.
I’ve always tried to escape up north during the end of summer. This year we have a great opportunity to visit my daughter Ruth in Manhattan, where she is having a ball working in the fashion industry. Her job is to influence the influencers. Her company is a fast-growing upscale women’s fashion brand called Ramy Brook. For a girl who spent her entire life in Mississippi, she’s living the dream.
In another month we'll all notice that first cool morning, when the air feels just a little different and football doesn't seem so far away. Until then, I'll keep saying exactly what my wife Ginny hears several times every day: "Thank you, Lord, for air conditioning."
