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Thunder Domes are Weak, Welcome to the Heat Dome
Rare weather event bringing record temperatures to the PNW
The air above the road shimmers with heat, like an invisible nest of ghost snakes working their way toward heaven. Fuel gauge reads half empty, or half full, depending on your outlook. I’m in the driver seat. Sweat drips down my forehead and off my nose. I haven’t bathed in a week. I’m looking for an air conditioner.
I’ve been to three stores already. Walmart. Target. Home Depot. All sold out. Things are looking grim. My house was one of the few on the market that had central air when I was hunting for a home several years back. But the unit shit the bed in this heat storm. Couldn’t handle the sustained workload thrust upon it by the Heat Dome.
I’ve been forced out of my hidey-hole. My safe space of calm, cool darkness, with its drawn shades and its icy water straight from the refrigerated dispenser. I’ve got the funds for a window AC unit. Hell, I’d even spring for one of the portable types. Problem is this is the Pacific Northwest. Land of the Tesla driving coffee lover. Land of the self-made entrepreneur. There are too many of them, and not enough air conditioners to go around. And some of these assholes saw it as an opportunity to make an extra buck. They bought up more units to sell them back to people for a…