Ohioans started summer in a sweat, and the heat dome that settled over the state on Sunday is acting like an oven that keeps pushing temperatures into near record-setting highs.
With highs in the mid-90s, the “feels like” heat index value is between 100 and 105 degrees. As a result, the National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for Licking County until 8 p.m. Wednesday.
“Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses,” the weather service said in its advisory. “Consecutive days of excessive heat and humidity can be especially hazardous, as warm overnight temperatures will provide little relief.”
The high heat could continue into Thursday, the weather service said, noting that “this is part of a larger heat wave affecting much of the eastern United States.”
The weather service advises taking extra precautions when outside: Wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing. Try to limit strenuous activities to early morning or evening. And take action when you see symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned rooms, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives, neighbors, and pets.
On the east side of Newark, Newark Homeless Outreach volunteers planned to hand out water and ice pops to those in need on Monday and Tuesday from 1-3 p.m. at the corner of Buena Vista and East Main streets.
At around noon on Monday, June 23, it was cool inside the Community Drop-In Center at 592 W. Main St. in Newark. That was a welcome change from last week, when the air-conditioning system in the church building broke down.
Drop-In Center Director Donna Gibson said that one of the units is still on the fritz and the center will likely need to replace it soon. To keep temperatures down, the staff has limited the use of the kitchen’s oven and are encouraging donors to cook food donations at home if possible.
The Drop-In Center, which operates with volunteers, is typically open weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., but this week it is offering extended hours from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. from Monday to Wednesday. Anyone who would like to volunteer or donate items can contact the center at 740-344-4135.
Gibson’s main worry is about the effects of the heat on the community’s unhoused population. “We might need to worry a lot about heat exhaustion,” she said.
And her concern rises when she thinks about where people in need will go when the center closes. “At 6:30 at night, we’re giving them a fighting chance until we can come back tomorrow morning.”
Volunteer Greg Bossart said the volunteers prepare guests for the weather as much as possible, giving them water and food when they leave.
Around the room inside the center, people were eating and napping – and generally appreciating being in a cool space rather than in the hot sun.
One unhoused guest said the challenge for him is keeping medication cool. He worries that his insulin will not do well as the temperatures rise. The center offers a fridge to help with that.
Another guest said he lives in a van and manages a restaurant. He told The Reporting Project that his sleep is often disturbed by law enforcement officers who check in on him, forcing him to move from place to place every few hours.
Signs of heat exhaustion or stroke?
How can you tell if someone is suffering from heat exhaustion or heat stroke? They are two different conditions, and here is how the National Weather Service describes them:
Symptoms of heat exhaustion are heavy sweating; weakness or tiredness; cool, pale, clammy skin; a fast, weak pulse; muscle cramps; dizziness, nausea or vomiting; headache and fainting. First Aid recommendations are to move the person to a cooler environment, preferably a well air-conditioned room. Loosen clothing. Apply cool, wet cloths or have the person sit in a cool bath. Offer sips of water. Seek immediate medical attention if the person vomits, symptoms worsen or last longer than one hour
Symptoms of heat stroke are a throbbing headache; confusion; slurred speech; nausea; dizziness; body temperature above 103°F; hot, red, dry or damp skin; rapid and strong pulse; fainting; loss of consciousness. First aid recommendations are to call 911 or get the victim to a hospital immediately.
“Heat stroke is a severe medical emergency,” the weather service says. “Delay can be fatal. Move the victim to a cooler, preferably air-conditioned, environment. Reduce body temperature with cool cloths or a cool bath. Use a fan if heat index temperatures are below the high 90s. A fan can make you hotter at higher temperatures. Do NOT give fluids.
The forecast: Rinse and repeat the heat
The National Weather Service forecast for this week is a string of days in the mid-90s with lows in the mid-70s with the possibility of showers and thunderstorms most days:
The high Monday will be near 95, with heat index values as high as 102. Monday night, the low is expected to be around 74.
On Tuesday, there is a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Otherwise, it will be sunny, with a high near 95 with heat index values as high as 103. The low Tuesday night will be around 73.
On Wednesday, there is a chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 11 a.m. The chance of precipitation is about 50%. Otherwise, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 92. At night, the low will be around 73, and there is a chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2 a.m. and a slight chance of showers after that hour.
Thursday will bring a high of about 92 and a chance of showers before 8 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., and showers are likely after 2 p.m. – with a possible thunderstorm. Showers are likely and thunderstorms are possible Thursday night before 8 p.m., followed by a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. The low will be around 73.
Friday’s high will be near 92. Showers are likely and a thunderstorm is possible, mainly after 2 p.m. Showers are likely at night with a possible thunderstorm before 8 p.m., followed by a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m., then a chance of showers after 2 a.m. It’ll be partly cloudy at night, with a low around 72.
For Saturday, the high is expected to be below 90 for the first time all week – at 89. Showers and thunderstorms are likely. The low at night will be around 71.
And Sunday is expected to be more of the same with a high near 90 and a chance of showers and thunderstorms.
Katie Nader, Tyler Thompson, Alan Miller and Jack Shuler contributed to this story. They write for TheReportingProject.org, the nonprofit news organization of Denison University’s Journalism program, which is supported by generous donations from readers. Sign up for The Reporting Project newsletter here.