“When summer opens, I see how fast it matures and fears it will be short; but after the heats of July and August, I am reconciled, like one who has had his swing, to the cool of autumn.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
It appears summer, like a house guest overstaying his welcome, is not quite ready to leave.
Then again, autumn doesn’t officially begin until Sept. 22.
Welcome to late August in Ohio.
In short, the next couple of days are gonna be hot. Damn hot.
How hot is it out there? (If you hate bad jokes, skip down a few lines in this story.)
— It’s so hot, I saw a funeral procession pull through a Dairy Queen.
— It’s so hot in Washington, D.C. that Congress installed a fan in the debt ceiling.
— It’s so hot, I discovered my seat belt makes a pretty good branding iron.
OK, it’s safe to resume reading. Bad jokes are done.
The National Weather Service office in Cleveland has issued a heat advisory Tuesday from noon to 8 p.m. for an area that includes Richland, Ashland and Knox counties.
Heat index values of 100 to 103 are expected during the period, which may lead to heat-related illnesses for those unprepared and/or unprotected from the late-summer blast.
You know the drill. Drink plenty of fluids. Stay in an air-conditioned room if possible. Stay out of the sun as much as you can. Check up on relatives and neighbors, especially the more senior citizen folks.
If you do have to be outside, take extra precautions. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing. Try to limit strenuous activities to early morning or evening.
Take action when you see symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Here’s a look at the forecast for the next couple of days before we get a break Wednesday with some cooling thunderstorms and rain.
Today
Sunny, with a high near 93. Heat index values as high as 96. Southwest wind 5 to 11 mph.
Tonight
A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2 a.m. Mostly clear, with a low around 71. Southwest wind 7 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Wednesday
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Heat index values as high as 95. West wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Wednesday Night
A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. Northeast wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 a.m., then a slight chance of showers between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Northeast wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.
Thursday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 67.
Friday
A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Sunny, with a high near 93. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Friday Night
A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.