This week is setting up to bring the Tuscarawas Valley’s first heatwave of the year. Both temperatures and humidity are expected to ramp up across east-central Ohio as a ridge of high pressure settles over the region.
After today’s seasonal temperatures and low dewpoints, temperatures will heat up to around 90° on Monday under bright sun. A disturbance moving into the vicinity on Tuesday will bring an increase in clouds and the possibility of scattered thunderstorms late in the day. That should bring temperatures back to the upper-80s on Wednesday. However, that’s not going to stick. Expect the hottest temperatures this week on Thursday and Friday. With dew points in the low 70s, heat index values over 100° are a good bet.
This hot and humid airmass will also bring almost daily chances of widely scattered showers and storms – especially on Thursday and Friday.
By Saturday, the ridge of high pressure begins to break down as an approaching low-pressure system and a cold front approaches. (Thunderstorms could also be more organized with this feature on Saturday, but we’ll talk more about that later in the week.)
Basically, expect hotter temperatures and muggy humidity this week. It will feel more like mid to late July. If you work outdoors or in a closed, non-air-conditioned environment, be prepared.
