CLEVELAND — After enjoying the fourth warmest Christmas on record in the Cleveland area on Wednesday with 58 degrees, the mercury climbed to 66 degrees this afternoon.
The National Weather Service tells 3News Hopkins Airport recorded a high of 66 degrees at 2:19 p.m., just two degrees short of the all-time record for December 26th of 68 degrees set in 2016. (The all-time highest December temperature ever set in Cleveland was 77 degrees on December 3, 1982)
Youngstown and Toledo both tied or broke their record highs today. At the Youngstown-Warren Airport in Vienna, the high topped out at 64 degrees at 2:52 p.m. to tie (and replace) the old record of 64 degrees in 2016 and 1982.
Meanwhile, Toledo Express Airport reached 63 degrees at 3:47 p.m. to shatter their long held record of 62 degrees set 131 years ago in 1888.
3News Chief Meteorologist Betsy Kling says temperatures will be cooler, but still mild on Friday across northeast Ohio with highs expected in the 50s. We may return to near 60 degrees or warmer by Sunday, then big changes are ahead for Monday as part of major storm system that will affect Ohio. Get Betsy's complete forecast for the next 7 days.