The National Weather Service (NWS) predicts that a significant wave of heat and humidity will arrive and stick around through the middle of next week. Laying out the details, the NWS emphasizes the onset of a mid-level ridge that is pushing temperatures to potentially dangerous highs.
Residents in the Columbus and Cincinnati areas should brace themselves for consecutive days of baking heat. "Highs today will be in the upper 80s to possibly lower 90s," states the NWS, and coupled with dewpoints in the upper 60s to around 70 degrees, the heat index – or what the body perceives as the temperature – is expected to range from 95 to 100 degrees this afternoon. This intense heat, rolling over the people and pavement alike, advances Sunday, pushing heat indices to a staggering 100 to 105 degrees.
In response to these conditions, the NWS has issued a heat advisory beginning Sunday afternoon for parts of Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. The NWS forecast discussion notes that "Dry conditions to persist with high temperatures on Sunday generally in the lower 90s," a heat that will seem all the more oppressively hot given the sandwiching high humidity.
Moreover, this heatwave is showing no sign of a swift departure. "We don`t have much relief from the heat," the NWS's extended forecast laments as it paints the picture for the coming days, revealing highs persistently in the mid 90s and night lows stubbornly staying in the mid 70s. And while rain might not be on the horizon to offer relief, an Air Quality Alert has also been declared, underscoring the atmospheric stagnation that often accompanies these dome-like high-pressure systems.
Pilots flying in and out of the region can expect generally clear skies with "VFR conditions will prevail through the period," according to the same NWS report. But those down on the ground might feel as though they're wading through a soup of heat and humidity, a phenomenon glaring at anyone who dares venture out into the open.
Local residents are urged to take precautions against the heat, such as staying hydrated, avoiding outdoor activities during peak temperatures, and checking on vulnerable populations who may be more affected by the conditions. The confluence of high temperatures and air quality concerns makes an uncomfortable mix, reminding us that not all summer days are created equally pleasant.
