Where Does The Term 'Dog Days Of Summer' Come From?

KPIX 5 Morning Weather Anchor Roberta Gonzales answers the questions you never get to ask on-air.

Today and tomorrow, temperatures will soar into the triple digits in many locations away from the Bay. These are the "dog days of Summer." With the weather so hot and the fact I have a tendency to day dream, it got me thinking…where did the phrase, "dog days of Summer" come from?

To be honest, I thought the answer was going to be kind of funny or down right hilarious. It's not. But it IS interesting!

The old Farmer's Almanac lists the traditional period of the Dog Days as the 40 days beginning July 3 and ending August 11, coinciding with the rising of the Dog Star, Sirius (this occurs at sunrise). These are the days of the year with the least rainfall in the Northern Hemisphere.

I thought it would be interesting to look at the hottest temperature ever recorded in a state and compare which record high fell during "the dog days of summer." Hope you enjoy looking at the list as much as I did!

Stay cool everyone!

Record Highest Temperatures by State

Alabama              112 - °F   44 - °C   Sept. 5, 1925      Centerville

Alaska                   100         38           June 27, 1915     Fort Yukon

Arizona                128          53           June 29, 1994     Lake Havasu City

Arkansas              120         49           Aug. 10, 1936     Ozark

California             134         57           July 10, 1913       Greenland Ranch

Colorado              118         48           July 11, 1888       Bennett

Connecticut        106         41           July 15, 1995       Danbury

Delaware             110         43           July 21, 1930       Millsboro

D.C.                       106          41           July 20, 1930       Washington

Florida                 109          43           June 29, 1931     Monticello

Georgia                112         44           Aug. 20, 1983     Greenville

Hawaii                   100         38           Apr. 27, 1931      Pahala

Idaho                    118         48           July 28, 1934       Orofino

Illinois                   117         47           July 14, 1954       E. St. Louis

Indiana                 116         47           July 14, 1936       Collegeville

Iowa                      118         48           July 20, 1934       Keokuk

Kansas                  121         49           July 24, 19361     Alton (near)

Kentucky             114         46           July 28, 1930       Greensburg

Louisiana             114         46           Aug. 10, 19361   Plain Dealing

Maine                   105         41           July 10, 19111     North Bridgton

Maryland             109         43           July 10, 19361     Cumberland & Frederick

Massachusetts  107         42           Aug. 2, 1975        New Bedford & Chester

Michigan              112         44           July 13, 1936       Mio

Minnesota          114         46           July 6, 19361       Moorhead

Mississippi          115         46           July 29, 1930       Holly Springs

Missouri               118         48           July 14, 19541     Warsaw & Union

Montana             117         47           July 5, 1937         Medicine Lake

Nebraska             118         48           July 24, 19361     Minden

Nevada                125         52           June 29, 19941   Laughlin

New Hampshire 106       41           July 4, 1911         Nashua

New Jersey        110         43           July 10, 1936       Runyon

New Mexico      122         50           June 27, 1994     Waste Isolat. Pilot Pit

New York            108         42           July 22, 1926       Troy

North Carolina   110         43           Aug. 21, 1983     Fayetteville

North Dakota     121         49           July 6, 1936         Steele

Ohio                      113         45           July 21, 19341     Gallipolis (near)

Oklahoma           120         49           June 27, 19941   Tipton

Oregon                 119         48           Aug. 10, 18981   Pendleton

Pennsylvania     111         44           July 10, 19361     Phoenixville

Rhode Island      104         40           Aug. 2, 1975        Providence

South Carolina   111         44           June 28, 19541   Camden

South Dakota     120         49           July 5, 1936         Gannvalley

Tennessee          113         45           Aug. 9, 19301     Perryville

Texas                   120          49           June 28, 19941  Monahans

Utah                     117          47           July 5, 1895         Saint George

Vermont              105         41           July 4, 1911         Vernon

Virginia                110          43           July 15, 1954       Balcony Falls

Washington        118         48           Aug. 5, 19611     Ice Harbor Dam

West Virginia     112         44           July 10, 19361     Martinsburg

Wisconsin            114         46           July 13, 1936       Wisconsin Dells

Wyoming             115         46           Aug. 8, 1983        Basin

I would love to hear from you! Please send weather questions, observations and photos to me, Gonzales@kpix.cbs.com and I look forward to hearing from you!