What are the “dog days” that begin at the beginning of July?

2024-07-04 2024-07-04T09:22:11Z

Weather of Arabia - “Dog Days” are known as a seasonal period in which heat increases every year, as they are considered the hottest days of summer. This period begins in the Northern Hemisphere at the beginning of July, and extends for about 40 days until mid-August. In the Southern Hemisphere, this period occurs in the months of January and February.

The reason for calling the Dog Days by this name

The “Dog Days” were given this name after the Romans who linked hot weather with the appearance of the dog star (Sirius) or Sirius. This period coincides with the appearance of the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major, which made ancient astronomers easily notice it. The constellation is a group of stars that form a specific shape or image in the sky.

The beginning and end of the “Dog Days” season

In the agricultural calendar, “Dog Days” begin on July 3 of each year and continue until August 11. As for the ancients, they set this period from July 24 to August 24. However, due to the movement of the Earth, which swings on its axis every 26,000 years, the positions of the stars changed. So the Dog Star no longer appears at the same time of the solar year.

Areas affected by the “dog days” heat

The “Dog Days” heat affects countries in the Northern Hemisphere, including the frozen Arctic and some countries in North Africa, South and North America, Central America and Asian countries. The Northern Hemisphere constitutes 60% of the Earth's land area.

However, the effects of summer heat and precipitation patterns in these regions vary with latitude, location, and many factors. For example, London in the United Kingdom is located north of Calgary in Canada, but its climate is milder thanks to the presence of the sea and the warm Gulf Stream.