The refrigerator has worn a sheen of water for more than a week. Every envelope in the house has sealed itself shut. The smallest household chore generates a sweat; the outdoor shower is working overtime, and the towels never seem to dry. The window fan runs around the clock, but doesn’t seem to do much good; this is air so heavy it calls for other implements — perhaps a shovel.

Our sympathy goes to everyone outside dealing with the soggy situation: fog in the morning, winds from the south, haze, sweltering humidity and the occasional thunderstorm.