JoCo launches ‘Heat is On’ website as drought resource

Our poor, poor lawn.

Last night’s thunderstorms notwithstanding, we’re in the middle of the worst drought in decades.

And to help the local citizenry weather out this intolerable weather, Johnson County launched a new website Wednesday called “The Heat is On.”

The site provides the current weather and latest forecast, along with recent updates on local burning bans, water usage guidelines, and tips about preventing damage to homes’ foundations, lawns and trees.

It’s a solid resource for a serious situation — though the webmeisters have managed to mix in a couple of entertaining tidbits. For one:

[A] heat wave may provide the opportunity for some experimenters to find the answer to a timeless question that generations often have tested: Can it get hot enough to fry an egg on a street or sidewalk?
According to the Library of Congress, the answer is: no.
An egg needs a temperature of 158 degrees to become firm. You’re not going to find that type of heat on a sidewalk. Here’s a hint: You might, however, be able to fry an egg on the hood of a car since metal conducts heat better than concrete. A black car hood would work best.
But even if it’s not hot enough to fry an egg, the objective to all ages is the same: stay cool.