High Temperatures above 95 since 1980

This graphic tells it all.  Most of these days occurred in the drought summer of 1988. We should easily make it above 95 today.  Already 90 and its only 11AM.

June 15th to July 17th Temperatures Since 1991

We are in the midst of our first heat wave across northern Ohio.  Temperatures will stay above 90 for several days until the heat pushes back to the west late this weekend.  Is this type of heat across the country common or a rarity?  Below is a plot of temperatures compared to normal for JUNE 15th through JULY 17th for each of the last 20 years starting with this year.  Warmer colors indicate temperatures above normal.

Check out 1998 and 1994.  The heat looks very similar to what has been going on most of this summer.

Notice the core of the heat in Oklahoma and Texas

Heat last year was along the East Coast, Washington, D.C.

Two year ago, the heat was once again over Texas

Heat in 2008 was along the West Coast. Cooler in the Great Lakes

Heat in 2007 in the Pacific Northwest

2006 featured heat in the norther tier and out West

2005 heat:  Central Plains

Very little heat here

Cooler temps from Texas to New York

Heat across the northern 1/2 of the US

Heat out west in 2001

Heat in the deep south/cooler north

Heat in New england, cooler in the deep south

Look familiar? Heat across Texas and Oklahoma

Temps stayed near normal

Heat over Texas; cooler in the Great Lakes

Well below normal out west; heat in Canada

Look familar? Heat in Texas, New Mexico and in New England

In 1993, heat was located East

Temps well below normal across most of the US

Heat across the Great Lakes; cooler than normal out west

Local Flooding in Ohio...Technical Issues This Morning

Today was a very busy day on multiple fronts.  First shortly after the start of the 4:30AM show, the news server went down and went down hard.  Without going into too many technical details, you only need to know that we had no video, no audio, no stories, no flashy animations.  Basically, the anchors had to read the news on camera for several hours. In between stories, they dutifully filled the space with clever banter sometimes hinting at the difficulties of the morning.  Needless to say, it was an exercise in mental toughness not only for the anchors but for the producers and countless other behind-the-scenes people who painstakingly found ways to get the long show on the air.  Of course, inclement weather such as flooding and storms make the show a bit easier to produce.  When all else fails or you run out of options, toss it to the weatherguy, right?  Today though, it was out of necessity and it was actually necessary.  Bottom line, all worked out fine.  The shows went off surprisingly smooth.  As of this writing, the server is almost at 100%...maybe not.

Back to the flooding and storms.  A cluster of storms/heavy rain began to develop over the lake around 11PM.  By 2PM, it had dropped an inch of rain in Cleveland.  By 9AM, more than 6 inches of rain fell in some areas in southern Summit county, northern Stark county. A few reports near Strongsville also reported around 6 inches.

The lightning around 4:30AM was equally as impressive

Temps are climbing with another 90 possible.....

Heat is heading for Ohio..But For How Long?

I was "off the grid" for a week and a half resting and spending time with the family.  In the midst of some badly needed R&R, the heat in the center of the country has slowly expanded north and slightly east.  So far, Northeastern Ohio has only had 5 days above 90 through July 17th.  As the heat slides east this week, it isn't a question of weather or not we hit 90 but how many times.

More than 10 states are under "excessive heat warnings" Monday, July 18th

The 100+ degree heat is almost to the Canadian border

...and south into Texas

Heat index readings of at least 120 will be common

The forecast high temps for all of us in Northeastern Ohio are still high...and climbing by the end of the week. A few storms might reduce the temps a bit but not much

The "heat ridge" is still strong as show below

By early next week, the projections pushes the heat back west which should allow daytime highs to stay in the mid 80s for most of northern Ohio.  So if you are getting married next week or if you are finishing up baseball season or heading out for "two-a-days" for football, the oppressive heat should not be as much of a problem