Severe weather threat diminishes; Heat advisory issued for Thursday, Friday

There is a chance for showers and thunderstorms late tonight into the overnight hours, but the threat for severe weather has diminished.

The storms are expected in areas north of Interstate 70 after 10 p.m., according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington.

It will be hot and humid Thursday with mostly sunny skies and highs in the low 90s.

A Heat Advisory goes into effect a noon Thursday and lasts through 9 p.m. Friday. The heat index is expected to be as high as 100 on Thursday and 105 on Friday.

People should drink plenty of fluids, limit time outdoors in direct sunlight and wear light clothing. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles.

Those spending time outside should take extra precautions and try to plan any strenuous activity for the early morning or evening. People should take frequent breaks to rest in shaded air-conditioned areas.

Overnight it will be partly cloudy and warm, with a high around 75 degrees.

On Friday it will be sunny, with highs reaching around 96 degrees. The NWS said that heat index values could reach around 105 degrees during the day.

There will be a chance of showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms starting around dark on Friday that will continue through the night.

The NWS confirmed Wednesday that Dayton has hit exactly 95 degrees in air temperature a number of times in recent years (including four days in June-July 2022), but that’s been the peak. It hasn’t been hotter than 95 degrees in almost 10 years — since a 96-degree day on Sept. 10, 2013.

The last time Dayton’s air temperature exceeded 100 degrees was in June and July of 2012, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s online weather data. That year, it hit 102 on June 28, then stayed in the 90s for a full week, hitting 98 and 99 multiple times, then rose to 102 again on July 6 and July 7.

The only times in the past 40 years that Dayton has gone over 100 degrees for air temperature were those three days in 2012, and seven days in the summer of 1988 (June 25, July 7-8-9, July 15-16, and Aug. 17).

Number of days at 95 degrees or hotter in Dayton

2022 — 4

2020 — 2

2013 — 1

2012 — 11

2011 — 9

2007 — 3

2005 — 2

2002 — 1

All other years since 2000 had no days at 95 or hotter.

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