Air quality warning: Heat warning until 8 p.m.

Heat warning until 8 p.m.
AIR QUALITY ALERT (Franklin, Union, Delaware, Licking, Fairfield Counties)

A large heat dome covers the eastern half of the country. At the surface, a high pressure system is anchored over the Mid-Atlantic states, continuing a slight southeasterly flow of hot, moist air.

An air quality warning is in effect for Franklin, Union, Delaware, Licking and Fairfield counties due to the accumulation of ground-level ozone.

Sunshine and dry weather from Thursday to Saturday will bring slightly warmer temperatures around 35 degrees, but with a slight drop in humidity. Still, with a lot of heat and humidity, it will be uncomfortable and it is important to stay hydrated and limit time spent outdoors during the afternoon hours.

Isolated showers or storms are possible in the northern part of the state as a cold front moves south over the Great Lakes and stalls north of Ohio.

A cold front will finally approach the region later Sunday, bringing some storms. Things will then become cooler and less humid early next week as the high pressure system moves south over the Great Lakes. However, a return flow from the south will warm temperatures again on Tuesday.

forecast

• Thursday: Partly cloudy, hot. High 93
• Tonight: Partly cloudy, humid. Low 74
• Friday: Partly cloudy, hot. High 95
• Saturday: sunny, hot. Maximum temperature 96 (74)
• Sunday: Partly sunny, thunderstorms late in the day. High 92 (76)
• Monday: sunny, less humid. Maximum temperature 86 (68)
• Tuesday: Mostly sunny, warmer. Highest temperature 89 (64)
• Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, few thunderstorms. Maximum temperature 91 (69)