COLUMBUS – It’s been the hottest summer on record in many parts of the world, though Ohio has escaped the worst of the extreme weather.
UPDATE 8/24/23 7:21 a.m.: This article has been updated with new information throughout
We are not completely immune to dangerous heat, however, and temperatures are forecast to be in the 90s again Wednesday through Friday.
Thursday is on track to be one of the hottest and most humid days this summer, with heat indices approaching 106 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
The National Weather Service has placed all of central Ohio under an Excessive Heat Advisory from noon until 9:00 p.m. Thursday, forecasting a chance of a heat index of 110 degrees.
Early-morning thunderstorms have done little to cool off daytime temperatures and may have even made the conditions worse by adding humidity to the air.
According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, heat-related causes claim an average of more than 600 lives nationwide per year.
“The heat indexes expected in Ohio can truly be dangerous, and I encourage you to take…precautions seriously,” Ohio Department of Health director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff said. “In particular, please remember to look out for those who are more vulnerable, such as young children and the elderly.”
“Don’t assume they can get out on their porch ’cause many people are afraid of falling, gfoing down steps, things like that to get to a porch. And many people, even with air conditioning, can’t afford to turn it on,” says Chuck Gehring, president and CEO of Lifecare Alliance, which delivers Meals-On-Wheels in five central Ohio counties.
Columbus Public Health officials recommend staying in air conditioning whenever possible and those without air conditioners at home can use movie theatres, malls, libraries and other public places to stay cool.
City of Columbus Community Centers are open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. weekdays.
Because lifeguards have returned to school, only pools at Driving Park, Dodge, Glenwood and Tuttle are still open and only on weekends through Labor Day.
Columbus Metropolitan Library branches will be open starting at 9:00 a.m. Hours and locations can be found here.
Other ways to stay healthy and safe in hot weather
- Drink plenty of water. Do not wait until you are thirsty.
- Avoid beverages with alcohol, caffeine and sugar because they will dehydrate you.
- Eat light meals.
- Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing.
- Avoid strenuous activities and limit them to morning and evening hours.
- Learn the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses and how to treat them.
- Check on family members, friends and neighbors.
- Never leave people or pets in a closed car.
Source: Columbus Public Health
Sweltering temperatures lingered Sunday in a large swath of the central U.S., causing misery from the Gulf of Mexico to the Great Lakes last weekend.
The European climate agency Copernicus reported that the average global temperature in July was one-third of a degree Celsius hotter than the old record.