We know it has been a hot summer thus far.   We can keep track of the daily highs, but another interesting stat is our need for cooling.  This looks at how high above normal the temperature is, and is a measure of how much we need to cool our homes.

outlook from the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center

Cooler, less humid air will return to the area during Thursday.  Thursday night and Friday will be fairly comfortable — similar to how Monday was this week.

Temps and humidity levels should creep back up a little early next week — which is the first full week of August.

5:45 pm update – severe storms are moving out.   Reports of trees down have come in from southern Michigan and the greater Toledo area.  Things will quiet down the rest of the evening.  We will dry out overnight, and stay dry Thursday and Friday,

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A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued until 8 pm for much of the area.  Some lines of storms will track through the area, and some may produce high wind gusts. Storms will not hit everywhere.

With it being so muggy again, storms will unleash heavy downpours.  Storm threat diminishes later this evening, and should end after midnight.

Humidity levels will gradually drop Sunday and stay at comfortable levels through Monday night.  Some heat and humidity will return by mid-week.

The threat for severe storms will last into Saturday night.  Storms should diminish by Sunday morning, leading to a much more tranquil and comfortable pattern Sunday into Monday.

Storms may produce high winds and large hail.  With the very high humidity, torrential downpours will occur with the storms.  It will be possible to pick up an inch of rain in less than half an hour.  Repeated storms could cause rain totals of a few inches.

The high at Toledo Express airport hit 96° today — making it the hottest day of the year so far.  The total of 90-degree days for July is now 11, and the total for the year is 15.

Heat and humidity will last through Saturday, so we should add one more 90° day onto the above totals.  Cooler weather will settle in for early next week, but some 90° weather is possible later in the week.

By late next week, we could have July’s count of 90° days breaking 10.  Here’s a comparison on how the past few years turned out. 

Last year, while it was humid, we didn’t have many 90° days.  Quite a contrast to just two years before in 2007.