Summer Solstice derives from a combination of Latin words meaning “sun” and “to stand still.” It marks the longest day of the year for the Northern Hemisphere, although it is in December for the Southern Hemisphere..

Here are some summer facts that could come in handy on the Grand Strand:

• The hottest day on record in Myrtle Beach was Aug. 22, 1983, when the temperature reached 105 degrees.

• Although the Grand Strand sees 215 sunny days on average each year, summer months July and August are typically the wettest for the Myrtle Beach area.

• The average temperature in the primary summer months is 88 degrees in June, 91 in July and 89 in August.

• The Drifters suggested escaping the sun by going “Under the Boardwalk” in 1964. In 2010, National Geographic tabbed Myrtle Beach’s 1.2-mile boardwalk as the third best in the country.

• The UV Index measures the danger of sunburn. Last year on the Grand Strand, the averages were 10.3 for June, 10.61 for July and 9.35 for August out of a possible 11. Any number over 9 means that sunburn could occur in less than 15 minutes and that it advised to stay indoors between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. if possible. The forecast for Wednesday was 10.

• Myrtle Beach has a population of 27,209 according to the 2010 Census. However, during the summer months, it’s not unusual to have 300,000 or more in town at one time. The average daily population is estimated at 105,000, according to the city of Myrtle Beach’s website.

• In 2011, Trip Advisor named Myrtle Beach the No. 1 best beach in the United States in its Travelers’ Choice Awards.

• July is a good time for ice cream vendors. The average American eats 51/2 gallons of ice cream a year, with the bulk of that coming in July. Perhaps that’s why the late President Reagan declared it National Ice Cream month.

• Bonfires are synonymous with some solstice festivities. Some would stay awake the entire night to welcome the sun. Some cultures thought these fire warded off evil spirit. Others thought telling your wish to a pebble and throwing it in a solstice bonfire made that wish come true. Unfortunately, it is illegal to have a fire on the beach along the Grand Strand.

• 1816 was considered the year without a summer. An eruption of Mount Tambora on the island of Sumbawa (modern day Indonesia) resulted in extremely low temperatures for Northern America and Northern Europe. Ice was observed in lakes and rivers as far south as Pennsylvania in July and August.