this heat can go away now

Happy Independence Day! This heat wave has been off the hook (as the young'uns say)! Yesterday's high temperature at the Chico Airport was 111 degrees! The dew point (the direct measurement of the amount of moisture in the air- the higher the dew point, the more moisture) reached 70 degrees (almost unheard of in these parts; that's more like the East Coast). At one point yesterday afternoon the combination of the dew point and the air temperature made it feel like 120 degrees! Right around 6 pm yesterday thunderstorms building over the Sierra Nevada produced outflow winds that reached all the way down to Chico. Winds from the north gusted to over 30 mph, making it feel like a blast furnace. It was just miserable. Already before 7 am this morning the temperature in Chico is 90 degrees. I am SO over this heat wave! It looks like we'll have to endure one more day of triple digit heat (extending the streak of 100+ degree temps to seven consecutive days). Heat relief should come tomorrow, as highs are only expected to reach the middle 90s, and low 90s on Saturday! Break out the jackets and long pants! That will feel downright chilly compared to these recent temps. It looks like highs will remain below 100 degrees through the middle of next week. Still hot, but more like what we're used to seeing. If celebrating the United States' 237th birthday today, have fun, but be careful. Highs will still be oppressive, so drink plenty of water and kick back in the shade. Chico's annual Fourth of July celebration takes place all day in Bidwell Park, and fireworks will be exploding over the Silver Dollar Speedway around 9:30 tonight. If traveling to the mountains to escape the heat, be careful of thunderstorms firing up today. Golf ball size hail was reported yesterday in eastern Shasta County, north of Chico; reports similar to this may occur again today, along with heavy rain, gusty winds, and lightning. Again, have fun, but be safe! Here's Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Independence Day Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 106. Calm wind becoming northwest 5 to 7 mph in the morning. Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 70. Northwest wind around 8 mph. Friday Sunny and hot, with a high near 96. Calm wind becoming south southeast 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon. Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 63. Southeast wind 5 to 7 mph. Saturday Sunny, with a high near 92. South wind around 5 mph. Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 64. Sunday Sunny, with a high near 95. Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 64. Monday Sunny and hot, with a high near 96. Monday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 65. Tuesday Sunny and hot, with a high near 96. Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 65. Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 95.