The recent heat wave and dry streak are both being washed away with thunderstorms and heavy rains. The past two days have brought almost 2″ of rain to the toledo area (officially 1.83″). This has nearly erased the monthly rainfall deficit for July and helped ease persistent dry weather from June.

The recent rain has not dampened the fact that July may end as one of the warmest on record (currently tied for the 2nd warmest all time). The monthly average temperature up to this point is 78.6°. This is +5.6° Above Normal! In addition, we are on a streak of 8 consecutive days of high temperatures 90° or warmer. The all time record for consecutive 90° days is 11 set in August of 1959.

Thursday was the warmest day in over 16 years for Toledo setting a new record record high…102 degrees!

We weren’t alone with record highs either:
Detroit: 100 degrees
Cleveland: 97 degrees

The final total had 55 cities breaking records and nearly 60 additional cities registering a tie for a record high across the Great Lakes and Ohio River Valley. Today the ridge of high pressure, or “heat dome”, begins to shift up the eastern seaboard.

We are in the midst of a major heat wave, scorching the area with what soon could be temperatures that top 100 degrees! The dangerous combination of heat and humidity will push heat index values to 110 degrees and beyond. So when was the last time the Glass City had a temperature of 100 degrees or warmer? Try over a decade ago!

Here are some tips to help you try and beat the heat:

I am expecting more record highs this week, especially on Thursday. The old record, of 99 degrees will likely be eclipsed by tomorrow’s expected high which will exceed 100 degrees! Stay cool everyone!

After persistent and soaking rain that flooded area rivers and farm fields this spring, June has been a complete 180 to very dry conditions. Here is where the past three months have registered:

April: 6.33″ –2nd wettest all time
May: 5.88″ –9th wettest all time
June: 0.51″ –3rd driest all time

The only years that eclipse this year’s bone dry weather in June were in 1946 with 0.27″ and 1876 with 0.12″ of precipitation.

Some weak funnel clouds were reported in thunderstorms in Fulton county this afternoon around 3:30 pm.  These did not touch down and become tornadoes.  The storms today are much different than Wednesday’s, so these were not as violent.  Some sirens did go off in Fulton county between 3 and 4 pm.  No tornado warning was issued since it did not touch down, and since doppler radar did not show any intense rotation.

This picture was taken from the Fulton county storm by Dylan Ehlers as he traveled westward along the turnpike.

The high at Toledo Express Airport hit 87°, making it the warmest day and only the second 80° day of the year.  It was the warmest day since 87° on October 10th.

Temperatures will max out in the low/mid 80s Friday before a much cooler pattern takes shape Saturday through the middle of next week.

Easterly winds will keep temps in check  into Monday, but a warm front will pass through the area on Tuesday, allowing the return to 80° temperatures by mid-week.

We could see some 80s far away from lake Tuesday, and areawide Wednesday and Thursday if we get enough sun.  Some scattered storms will be around during this period.

The warmest day of the year thus far has been April 10th when we hit 84°, and has been the only day when we have hit or exceeded 80°.  If we go above 84° this week, it will be the warmest temp since October 10th, when it hit 87°.

Lows in some areas dropped into the mid 30s this morning, allowing for some patchy frost.  Frost occurs even when thermometers read 33-36°.  The reason is that thermometers that take air temperature are placed a few feet above the ground.  On a clear & calm night, cooler air sinks and falls to the ground.  This allows the temperature at grass/plant level to be around 32°, even though your thermometer might read a little higher.

One good thing about very dry air this time of year is that it warms quickly.  Highs will reach the mid 60s today.  A bigger warm-up is slated for next week.

For other information about “A Touch Of Frost”, click here.

Normal High/Low:

May 1      66° / 43°

May 31   76° / 54°

Records:  95° / 25°

Normal Rainfall:  3.14″

Sunrise & Sunset:

May 1      6:32 am / 8:33 pm

May 31   6:04 am / 9:02 pm