CLEVELAND — We're in the midst of the hottest temperatures we’ve experienced all year, which is why the National Weather Service in Cleveland has triggered an Excessive Heat Warning for Northeast Ohio from noon Friday until 8 p.m. Saturday.
With actual air temperatures expected in the mid 90s, WKYC’s Hollie Strano says heat indexes will hit triple digits – possibly as hot as 112 degrees or higher.
"An Excessive Heat Warning is issued when a prolonged period of dangerously hot weather will occur," the National Weather Service said. "The combination of high temperatures and high humidity will combine to create a dangerous situation in which heat illnesses are likely."
►HEAT-RELATED ILLNESSES | Heat exhaustion vs. heatstroke: How to spot the symptoms
►CURRENT WEATHER ALERTS | See the list
►EXTENDED FORECAST | 7-day outlook
Experts advise avoiding prolonged outdoor activities – and remember to keep your pets indoors.
The following counties are under an Excessive Heat Warning:
- Ashtabula (all but northern tip)
- Ashland
- Carroll
- Cuyahoga
- Erie
- Geauga
- Holmes
- Huron
- Lorain
- Medina
- Portage
- Richland
- Stark
- Summit
- Trumbull
- Tuscarawas
- Wayne
►LIVE RADAR | Check the weather in your area
Cooling centers are also opening throughout the area:
Akron (centers below open 8:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday)
- Lawton Street Community Center
- Mason Park Community Center
- Patterson Park Community Center
- Summit Lake Community Center
The Salvation Army is also offering a cooling center at the Akron Citadel on Friday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Barberton (open 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday)
- Barberton Corps of Salvation Army
Canton
- South East Community Center (also known as Edward "Peel" Coleman Community Center) will be open from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. on Friday and 12 p.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday
- The Salvation Army will provide meals and be open from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday
SARTA will provide transportation for passengers to commute between the South East Community Center, the Salvation Army and Cornerstone Transit on Cherry using SARTA Bus Routes 110 and 118 at no cost.
Cleveland (centers below open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday)
- Oak Street Health Glenville
- Oak Street Health Lee Harvard
- Oak Street Health Westown
(Rec centers below are extending their hours until 11 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday):
- Lonnie Burten at 2511 East 46th Street
- Zelma George at 3155 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
- Thurgood Marshall at 8611 Hough Ave.
- Fairfax at 23356 E. 82nd Street
- Earle B. Turner at 11300 Miles Ave.
- Michael Zone at 6301 Lorain Ave.
- Cudell at 1910 West Blvd.
- Glenville at 680 E. 113th Street
Medina (open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday through Sunday)
- Medina Community Recreation Center, Community Room A
Middleburg Heights (open until Sunday at 8 p.m.)
- Middleburg Heights Community Center--exercise and pool facilities will not be open after normal closing hours. No unaccompanied minors without a parent or guardian will be allowed to remain at the Community Center after 9:00 p.m.
North Royalton (open until 10 p.m. Friday, 5 p.m. Saturday, & 4 p.m. Sunday)
- North Royalton YMCA
Willoughby Hills (open 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday & Friday)
- Willoughby Hills Community Center, Senior Room
For those of you already tired of the heat, fall officially arrives on Monday, Sept. 23.