Three 90-degree days constitute a heat wave and the weekend wave was the first of its kind since July 23-25 2016, Storm Center 7 Meteorologist Kirstie Zontini said.
Doctors at Kettering Medical Center said they are seeing a lot more patients coming in this time of year with complaints of severe cramping, nausea and headaches from the heat.
And the above-normal temperatures are affecting outsider work. Tree trimmers were in Riverside Monday morning, cutting down limbs around the Valley Worship Center on Valley Pike.
Trimmers started the work at 9 a.m. and planned to be there for five to six hours. They filled coolers with ice and drinks to keep their core temperatures down.
“[The heat] makes us constantly sweat,” said Josh Patterson, tree trimmer for Tackett Tree & Shrub Service. “Keeping sweat out of your face and eyes, you really want to come down for a drink of water every five minutes.”
At Orchardly Park, parents were making sure children’s body temperatures stayed cool with the splash pad water and by giving them plenty of fluids.
As the heat continues today and Wednesday, Zontini encouraged people to take care of themselves and their pets.
“Take lots of breaks,” Zontini said. “Drink water, stay in the shade or away from the sun.”
Cooling off
The extreme heat lead many people to seek out cooler temperatures at various cooling centers around the area.
Local recreation centers, including the Greater Dayton Recreation Center, Northwest Recreation Center and Lohrey recreation center, were designated as cooling centers — places designated by the city of Dayton for residents to go to cool off.
Nicole Burger of the Greater Dayton Recreation Center said on Monday many of the people using the cooling center don’t have access to cool environments on hot days.
“We have a lot of people that don’t have air conditioning or fans, ” Burger said. “When the weather gets hot like this, we need to give them some relief.”
A warm, wet outlook
The heat wave isn’t expected to continue, but temperatures will still be warm throughout the week.
The temperatures were unusually high for June. Zontini said temperatures usually hover around the low 80s for most of the month, and a return to normal is in the forecast.
Temperatures today are expected to fall just below 90 degrees at 88 degrees. On Wednesday, temperatures will reach 85 degrees. By Thursday, the temperature will return to around normal with a high of 80 degrees.
Though the temperatures are cooling, humid and muggy conditions will remain. The muggy conditions also create a chance for showers and storms, and flash floods with them.
“These storms will have plenty of tropical moisture to work with, meaning rainfall rates from storms could become quite high,” Storm Center 7 Chief Meteorologist Eric Elwell said. “It is the type of environment where flash flooding can become an issue.”
COMPLETE WEATHER COVERAGE
Online: Visit DaytonDailyNews.com for weather updates and local impact.
On TV: Watch News Center 7 beginning at 4:25 a.m. and at noon to get the latest as you head out today.
On Radio: Get weather updates throughout the day on AM 1290 and News 95.7 WHIO.
INSIDE: See the weekend forecast on Page XX.
PROTECT YOURSELF
With the oppressive heat and humidity, it is important to remember safety tips if you have to be outside.
* Drink Plenty of Water
* Limit time outside during the peak daytime heating hours
* Do any yard work in the early morning/late evening
* Wear light colored, loose fitting clothing.
The following locations offer a free spot to cool off:
* Greater Dayton Recreation Center, 2021 W. Third St., Dayton, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday
* Lohrey Recreation Center and Belmont Pool, 2366 Glenarm Ave., Dayton, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday
* Northwest Recreation Center, 1600 Princeton Drive, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday
About the Author