Warm and sticky, hotter next few days brings air quality alert

HEAT ADVISORY UNTIL 8 P.M. / AIR QUALITY ALERT THURSDAY

A large dome of heat covers the eastern half of the country. An Air Quality Alert is in effect Thursday from noon until 8 p.m. for Franklin, Delaware, Licking and Fairfield counties, with lighter winds and more sunshine

At the surface, high pressure is situated over the Appalachians, continuing a light southeasterly flow of hot and humid air. Even with cloudiness, the heat index climbed into the upper 90s. Early morning readings will only drop into the low 70s.

An isolated shower or storm is possible northwest of I-71 the next couple of days ahead of a cold front in the Upper Midwest that will stall over the southern Great Lakes, with no break in the hot weather through the weekend.

More sunshine and dry weather Thursday through Saturday will result in slightly warmer readings in the mid-to upper 90s, but a subtle drop in humidity will likely keep the heat index from climbing past 100.

Regardless, plenty of heat and humidity will make it uncomfortable during the warmer part of the day, and it's important to stay hydrated and limit your time outdoors.

A cold front will finally approach the region later on Sunday, kicking off a few storms, and bringing cooler and less humid weather to start next week, as high pressure slides south across the Great Lakes. However, a return flow from the south will begin to warm things up again on Tuesday.

Forecast

• Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, sticky, isolated storm. High 91
• Tonight: Mainly cloudy. Low 73
• Thursday: Mostly sunny, hot. High 95
• Friday: Sunny, hot. High 96 (74)
• Saturday: Sunny, hot. High 96 (74)
• Sunday: Partly sunny, late-day storms. High 92 (75)
• Monday: Sunny, less humid. High 85 (67)
• Tuesday: Mostly sunny, warmer. High 89 (64)