If You Can't Take the Heat, Stay Out of the Summer

You've probably heard the expression, "If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen." It's attributed to 33^rd President Harry S. Truman.

As a U.S. senator, he made this comment to staff members who were upset about criticisms they were receiving.

These days, the phrase is occasionally leveled at people having a difficult time dealing with a stressful situation. Basically, the speaker is telling them that stress comes with the job. They need to either learn how to handle it or find another occupation.

It's a fitting analogy because many kitchens are the warmest room in the home. Due to both the oven and often a sliding glass door that lets in plenty of sunshine.

Month-By-Month Breakdown

If weather predictions for this summer are correct, it won't just be our kitchens that are too hot. Interestingly, it's the northern half of the U.S. that is expected to have more warmer than average days than the southern half.

According to the Weather Channel, temperatures will be the farthest above average for parts of Montana and North Dakota this summer. This situation will also extend from the Northwest southward into Oklahoma and eastward into the Great Lakes and northern New England.

In June, the central part of the country will experience the highest above-average temperatures, extending all the way from the Canadian border to the Gulf of Mexico.

The hottest temperatures compared to average will move into the northwestern part of the country in July, but will remain in the northern Great Lakes region and the far Northeast. In fact, AccuWeather predicts this will be the hottest month of the year.

More heat returns to much of the northern half of the country in August. Much of the Southeast could get a nice reprieve from the heat in both July and August.

Farmer's Almanac Chimes In

Now, not every weather prediction is the same. The Farmer's Almanac, for example, is predicting hotter temperatures for much of the country than the Weather Channel is.

The Almanac is calling for "oppressive" heat in Deep South states including Georgia and Alabama. As well as "sizzling" temperatures in Arizona and California.

Plus "scorching" temps in New England with below-average rainfall. Not to mention "broiling" heat in the West and Midwest. Sounds like folks at the Farmer's Almanac have been getting a lot of use out of their thesaurus.

The Almanac does indicate that states such as Ohio, Illinois, and Wisconsin will only be "warm to hot" rather than steaming this summer, but that conflicts with the Weather Channel.

What about the Climate Prediction Center, you ask. Well, meteorologists there are also calling for a warmer-than-average summer in America. As well as average precipitation.

Will El Niño Replace La Niña?

The main factors that all weather forecasters examine closely before making their predictions are the La Niña and El Niño patterns.

This year, most prognosticators are saying the El Niño pattern will replace the La Niña pattern during the summer and persist at least through the fall. But what does that mean?

During a La Niña period, sea surface temperatures across the equatorial band of the Pacific Ocean are lower by 6 to 9 degrees Fahrenheit than during an El Niño period.

Strong winds blow warm water at the ocean's surface away from South America across the ocean toward Indonesia. Cold water from deeper in the ocean rises to replace it.

A warming of that same ocean surface water characterizes the El Niño period. It is accompanied by high air pressure in the western Pacific Ocean and low air pressure in the eastern Pacific.

You'll Be a Big 'Fan' of This Item

In other words, regardless of whether the El Niño pattern replaces the La Niña pattern this summer, we're going to need some creative ways to cool off no matter where we live, based on what weather experts are saying.

Here's my suggestion: the Compact Rechargeable Fan from 4Patriots. Featuring four air speeds and a rotating head, it's adjustable up to 39 inches high.

But it weighs less than 3 pounds, it's wireless, and it folds up for "on the go" mode. That means you can easily take it wherever you go, providing cool air for you and your companions when it's hot or even during a blackout.

As if that weren't enough, this powerful yet quiet fan also comes with a remote, a timer, a flexible USB light, and "rubber feet" to help hold it in place. And it doubles as a power bank, so you can use it to charge your cellphone, tablet, and other small electronic devices.

Aim your cool right where you want it to be this summer with the Compact Rechargeable Fan. Here's how to get yours...