CLEVELAND — As we experience summer-like weather conditions with temperatures approaching 80 degrees and lots of sunshine across the region, the National Weather Service has issued a “special weather statement” that’s in effect until 8 p.m. Wednesday due to an elevated risk of fire spread.
“Dry and windy conditions this afternoon will create an elevated risk of fire spread across far northern Ohio,” according to the National Weather Service. “Minimum relative humidity values will range from 15 to 25 percent accompanied with wind gusts between 20 and 30 mph.”
The highest wind gusts are expected near the lakeshore.
“Residents are urged to exercise caution if handling any potential ignition sources, such as machinery, cigarettes or matches,” the National Weather Service continues. “If dry grasses and tree litter begin to burn, the fire will have the potential to spread rapidly.”
Here are the counties included:
- Ashland
- Ashtabula
- Cuyahoga
- Erie
- Geauga
- Holmes
- Huron
- Lake
- Lorain
- Mahoning
- Medina
- Ottawa
- Portage
- Richland
- Sandusky
- Seneca
- Stark
- Summit
- Trumbull
- Wayne
This comes as the region continues to experience abundant sunshine and unseasonably warm temperatures. Today is expected to be in the upper 70s -- but some areas could approach the record high of 82 degrees, which was set back in 1896.
“We are going to get closer to that [record] today. We are. We’ll hit 77 at Hopkins," 3News meteorologist Hollie Strano explains. "There’s no question that some of you will end up with record-high ties or new records.”
We're expecting even more sunshine and warm temperatures on Thursday and Friday before rain chances return this weekend.
"Even on Saturday, we’re going to sneak in a mainly dry day," Strano says. "It’s late that we see those showers. By Sunday, we’re 60s with rain showers and it does get a little cooler early next week.
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Editor's note: Video in the player above was originally published in an unrelated story on April 11, 2023.
