Columbus swelters under June heat wave. See when it will cool down

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5 hours ago

It's going to be hot in Columbus this week. Very hot. Maybe even hot enough to fry an egg on the pavement.
Temperatures will stay in the high 90s at the start of the week, with heat index values hitting 104 degrees. Starting on June 25, temperatures are expected to break, but not by much. They'll hover in the low 90s at least through June 29, the end of the National Weather Service's current forecast.
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Showers and thunderstorms will sneak into the forecast starting June 24, with the highest chance of precipitation occurring on June 26 and June 27.
Columbus and much of Ohio are under a heat advisory issued by the National Weather Service until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 24. Consecutive days of high heat and humidity, with little relief even at night, will make the next few days especially hazardous, according to the advisory.
To beat the heat, NWS Wilmington recommends drinking plenty of fluids, staying in air-conditioned rooms, avoiding the sun and checking in on your neighbors.
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The short answer is, "It's June," but the weather phenomenon known as a "heat dome" will cover a majority of the central and eastern U.S., according to the latest projections from Accuweather.
But what is a heat dome?
The NOAA says that a heat dome occurs "when a persistent region of high-pressure traps heat over a particular area, and it can linger for days to weeks."
Heat domes are often linked to how the jet stream behaves. The jet stream is a band of fast-moving winds high up in the atmosphere that move in wavy patterns.
"When the jet stream meanders north, it moves slower and can sink, which lowers humidity," NOAA said. "This allows the sun to create progressively hotter conditions on the ground. Air descending down mountains can also contribute to heat domes, as it warms even more."
Temperatures will cool slightly starting on Wednesday, June 25, when the high is expected to drop to 94 degrees, down from Tuesday's expected high of 97. The high will remain near 94 until Saturday, June 29, when it is expected to dip to 91 degrees.
If you're concerned about your energy bill as your air conditioner works especially hard this week, USA TODAY has some tips for you.
The U.S. Department of Energy recommends setting your thermostat at a level that keeps you comfortable indoors and controls for humidity. If you want to save money, you can raise the thermostat temperature to reduce the difference between the temperature inside and outside.
Energy Star, an Environmental Protection Agency program promoting energy efficiency, has more aggressive advice for saving money on air conditioning. It recommends setting your thermostat to 78 degrees for comfort and efficiency when you wake up in the morning. Multiple energy companies around the U.S. also recommend setting your thermostat to 78 degrees during the summer.
Monday: It will be sunny and hot with a high near 97. Heat index values will be as high as 104. There will be a southwest wind of 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: It will be mostly clear, with a low around 76. There will be a southwest wind of 5 to 7 mph that will become calm in the evening.
Tuesday: There is a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. It will be mostly sunny and hot with a high near 97. Heat index values will be as high as 104. There will be a calm wind that will start moving southwest at 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon. The chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tuesday Night: It will be partly cloudy, with a low around 76. There will be a west wind of around 6 mph that will become calm in the evening.
Wednesday: There is a chance of showers and thunderstorms. It will be mostly sunny, with a high near 94. There will be a calm wind that will start moving west at around 6 mph in the afternoon. The chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch are expected, except higher amounts could be possible if there are thunderstorms.
Wednesday Night: There is a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2 a.m. It will be partly cloudy with a low of around 75. The chance of precipitation is 20%.
Thursday: There is a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., then showers are likely, and a thunderstorm is possible after 2 p.m. It will be mostly sunny, with a high near 94. The chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday Night: Showers are likely, and a thunderstorm is possible before 8 p.m. There is then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. It will be partly cloudy with a low of around 74. The chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday: Showers are likely, and a thunderstorm is possible, mainly after 2 p.m. It will be mostly sunny, with a high near 94. The chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday Night: Showers are likely, and a thunderstorm is possible before 8 p.m., then there is a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m., then there is a chance of showers after 2 a.m. It will be mostly cloudy, with a low of around 74. The chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday: There is a chance of showers and thunderstorms. It will be mostly sunny, with a high near 91. The chance of precipitation is 50%.
Saturday Night: There is a chance of showers and thunderstorms. It will be mostly cloudy, with a low of around 72. The chance of precipitation is 30%.
Sunday: There is a chance of showers and thunderstorms. It will be mostly sunny, with a high near 91. The chance of precipitation is 50%.
Breaking and Trending News Reporter Nathan Hart can be reached at [e-mail] and at @NathanRHart on X and at nathanhart.dispatch.com on Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Heat advisory: Heat index over 100 degrees expected this week