Ohio is in the middle of a heat wave that is affecting much of the country.
Temperatures are expected to reach the 90s across the state this week, with high humidity making it feel even hotter.
As we move from summer into autumn, the jet stream begins to change.
This transition takes time, and the cooler weather that comes with it does not happen all at once.
Jonathan Guseman, NWS Wilmington Meteorologist-In-Charge, said, “The weather pattern is really dictated by where the jet stream sets up. So, like this week, for example, we’ve got a pretty strong ridge of high pressure, really, over a lot of the country in the eastern part of the US, extending north into Ohio. So, keeping that dome of heat around for us into the Ohio and Miami valleys.”
The average last day of 90-degree weather is September 4.
Temperatures are expected to begin falling below 90 degrees this week.
A stretch of 90-degree weather in early September is not unusual.
Similar four-day stretches of 90-degree-plus weather were recorded in September 2024 and 2019.
Guseman said, “Exactly how the weather pattern sets up where the features are. So, like, say, for this weekend, for example, the chances really decrease. That’s what you get in the fall as the jet stream starts to shift back, further south across us, as opposed to the summer where it’s typical to our north and allowing that hotter air to be in place for the summer months.”
The heat can be especially dangerous for people spending a lot of time outside.
Outdoor workers and athletes practicing after school should drink plenty of water, take more frequent and longer breaks, and use shade whenever possible.
If someone begins showing signs of heat-related illness, those symptoms should be taken seriously, and the person should be moved to a cooler location.
