Think this is hot? We’ve seen worse.

With high school football and pumpkin spice lattes in vogue, Ohioans have fall on the brain. But we have shorts and flip-flops on our bodies, because Mother Nature seems to have September confused with July.

Dayton had its 20th 90-degree-plus day of the year Tuesday, and No. 21 is on tap for today — well beyond the city’s average of 13 days per year of 90 or higher, according to Storm Center 7 meteorologist McCall Vrydaghs. Today’s high is forecast at 91 degrees.

“That would make three days in a row of 90 degrees-plus, so that would be our fourth heat wave of the summer,” Vrydaghs said.

WEATHER TRENDS: 2016-17 winter season was nearly snow-free

Schools without air conditioning are battling the late heat wave, as Tipp City Schools dismissed two buildings early Tuesday. Carroll High School did the same, and plans to dismiss early today as well.

In central Ohio, Columbus City Schools canceled classes altogether for today.

City of Xenia officials announced they will keep their Splash Pad open this week, beyond traditional Labor Day closing, because of the heat.

Vrydaghs said the Dayton area will stay warm through Thursday, with temperatures in the upper 80s that day.

“Friday should be the day that we start to see the falloff,” Vrydaghs said. “But we’re expected to stay muggy, and there’s a decent chance for rain or storms through the weekend and early next week.”

SCHOOL WEATHER: Local schools make up more snow days than law requires

While Dayton had more than its share of 90-degree days this year, we never had record-breaking midsummer heat. All 20 of the hottest days have been between 90 and 93 degrees. In fact, the Dayton area has not hit 95 degrees in five years — since a 96-degree day on Sept. 10, 2013.

Last year’s summer was extremely mild, with only three days of 90 or above. September was bizarre, with a high of 59 on Sept. 1, and only two 80-degree days in the first half of the month. Then we had seven straight days between 85 and 91 after Sept. 20.

Vrydaghs said the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center calls for above-average high temperatures in Dayton this September. The current average high is 80, but by the end of month, the average high is 70.

WEATHER TRENDS: Dayton region had long spring cold snap in 2018

“We’ll get a brief break from the heat this weekend, with highs in the 70s, but then we’ll be around 80 or the low 80s next week,” she said.

About the Author