Weather warning: Dangerous heat heading to northeast Ohio

CLEVELAND — It’s not even “officially” summer yet and we’ve declared WEATHER WARNING DAYS because dangerous heat is moving into northeast Ohio.

• WHEN: Monday to Thursday (17-20 June)
• EFFECTS: Numerous days of dangerous heat with highs above 30 degrees and heat index values ​​above 38 degrees possible
• NEED: Be prepared! Make sure your air conditioning is working, have fans available, and have plenty of water on hand. If you do NOT have air conditioning, stay with a family member or friend who does and/or inquire about cooling centers in your area.

Ironically, summer doesn’t officially begin until next Thursday, June 20th. This year’s summer solstice occurs at 4:50 p.m., marking the longest day of the year. As we welcome this summer season, we’ll already be in the midst of a DANGEROUS heatwave.

According to AccuWeather, this first widespread, dangerous heat wave will affect more than 135 million people next week, stretching from Chicago to Philadelphia.

The record temperature in Cleveland was 104 degrees and was reached on June 25, 1988.

Here is a list of the 10 highest temperatures recorded in Cleveland:

• 25 June 1988: 40 °C
• July 27, 1941: 103°F
• 27 August 1948: 39 °C
• June 28, 1944: 38°C
• 1 September 1953: 38.3 °C
• 2 September 1953: 38°C
• 3 September 1953: 38°C
• July 16, 1988: 38.3 °C
• 6 August 1918: 38°C
• 19 August 1955: 38 °C

Let’s start with the basics. What is a “Heatwave” defined/established? According to the National Weather Service (NWS), a heat wave is a period of really hot weather that lasts longer than two days. With the Monday-Thursday weather warning, we have already met the criteria established over the years.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the National Weather Service issued heat advisories and extreme heat warnings next week.

The NWS will be a HEAT WARNING when the daily heat index (feels like temperature and humidity) is between 100 and 104 degrees. If the heat index is expected to be between 94 and 99 degrees for four consecutive days, a heat warning is also issued. That’s a no-brainer for the next week.

The NWS provides a WARNING OF EXCESSIVE HEAT when the heat index is at least 40 degrees during the day and at least 24 degrees at night and the temperature lasts for at least 48 hours.

Heat can be extremely stressful for the body, so it is very important to prepare now. Heat-related illnesses can occur, such as Heat exhaustion And HEATSTROKEAccording to NOAA, the body’s ability to cool itself is compromised in extreme heat. This is no joke.

Take a look at this graphic and familiarize yourself with the symptoms now:

Use this weekend to make sure your air conditioning is running properly. Make sure you have fans on hand, too. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to buy a few more if you only have a few or none at all. Stock up on your water supply. I know this sounds like common sense, but waiting until next week when we’re dealing with that heat weather is not the right way to prepare.

If you do NOT have air conditioning, you should talk now to your relatives and friends who do and make arrangements to stay with them until the heat passes. This is important for sensitive groups, which include young children, people taking medications, and the elderly.

If you don’t have a place to go, find out about cooling centers in your area. 3News will post information about cooling centers as cities announce their plans.

The NWS continues to emphasize the impacts of dangerous heat on many other aspects of our daily lives.

According to the NWS, “Extreme heat also impacts our infrastructure – from transportation to utilities to clean water and agriculture. High heat can damage and deform road surfaces, warp or bend railroad tracks, and exceed the operating limits of certain types of aircraft. Electricity use increases as air conditioners and refrigeration units in homes and offices work harder to keep interiors cooler. Transmission capacity over power lines is reduced during high temperatures, further straining the power grid. Water resources are also strained as conventional power plants require large amounts of water for cooling, crops may use more water, and people use more water to stay hydrated and cool. Heat can have lasting impacts as crops can be damaged, leading to lost production, which in turn leads to supply shortages and/or higher costs for farmers and consumers.”

As we continue to receive new data daily, we will keep you updated on any potential changes to the forecast. However, next week’s dangerous heat has been consistent across all of our data since earlier this week. It’s time to prepare for our first major heatwave of the year.