Central Ohio counties to go under Air Quality Alert Thursday
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The central Ohio heat wave is continuing and has caused an air quality alert to be issued. The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission has issued an Air Quality Alert on Thursday for four central Ohio counties: Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, and Licking. With temperatures expected to stay in the high 90s through most [...]
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The central Ohio heat wave is continuing and has caused an air quality alert to be issued.
The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission has issued an Air Quality Alert on Thursday for four central Ohio counties: Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, and Licking. With temperatures expected to stay in the high 90s through most of the day, ozone pollution is expected to make the air unhealthy for sensitive groups.
View the latest Air Quality Index for Columbus, provided by AirNow and the Environmental Protection Agency, below. Columbus is projected to have an AQI above 100 on Thursday.
Storm Team 4 is forecasting very hot temperatures for Thursday with a high of 96 with a chance for isolated storms as well. That spike in heat is expected to remain through the weekend as highs stay above 93 until Monday. Central Ohio remains under an excessive heat watch until Saturday night.
Columbus Recreation and Parks announced that cooling centers are open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. during the heat wave. Dodge, Driving Park, Glenwood, Linden, and Marion Franklin will be the centers open for those 12-hour time periods.
All department pools and spray grounds will have extended hours. Pools will be open from 1 to 8 p.m. with the $1 admission fee waived while the Blackburn, Linden, North Bank, and Scioto Southland spray grounds will open from noon to 8 p.m.
Columbus Public Health's recommendations for people who spend time outside in high heat include:
- Drink plenty of water. Do not wait until you are thirsty.
- Stay in air conditioning whenever possible. If you do not have an air conditioner, use movie theatres, malls, libraries and other public places that are cool.
- Avoid beverages with alcohol, caffeine and sugar because they will dehydrate you.
- Eat light meals.
- Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing.
- Avoid strenuous activities, and limit them to morning and evening hours.
- Learn the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses and how to treat them.
- Check on family members, friends and neighbors.
- Never leave people or pets in a closed car.