The intense heat wave coming to central Ohio this week can be blamed on a heat dome.
With the temperature reaching a high of 98 degrees July 1 according to AccuWeather, Columbus will really start feeling the cruel summer heat.
A heat dome is the culprit, National Weather Service Wilmington meteorologist Christopher Hogue told the Dispatch. A combination of factors above earth causes the air to warm as it sinks down to the surface.
“When it warms and sinks, it becomes hotter and hotter, and that’s what causes the effects to us here living on the ground,” Hogue said.
Heat domes rarely come with rain, Hogue said, as condensation is caused by rising air.
To fight the heat, Hogue recommends staying hydrated, limiting the amount of time spent outside and having places to go to cool off.
“If you know of some folks that don’t have air conditioning, try to help them out and get them some relief for periods as well, because heat can have the tendency to build up and the effects become more dangerous the longer you’re exposed to it.”
The “real feel,” or heat index, will be above 100 degrees each day during the afternoon, Hogue said, starting Monday west of Columbus and then spreading throughout the city into Thursday.
Central Ohio weather forecast for June 28 through July 5, 2026
Here’s a look at the forecast, as of June 28, according to AccuWeather:
Dispatch Reporter Nora Igelnik can be reached at nigelnik@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Heat dome to bring dangerous temperatures to Ohio
Reporting by Nora Igelnik, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Nora Igelnik, Columbus Dispatch | USA TODAY Network
