Hot today, hotter tomorrow; Heat indexes climb into 100s mid-week

The NWS said residents should drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned rooms, stay out of the sun and check up on relatives and neighbors.

Children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances, especially during hot weather, when car interiors can reach lethal temperatures in minutes, the NWS said.

An Air Quality Alert has been issued by the Southwest Ohio Air Quality Agency for Butler and Warren counties on Wednesday due to expected levels of air pollution considered “unhealthy for sensitive groups” like children, elderly adults and people with cardiac or respiratory diseases.

During the alert, residents can help reduce pollution by avoiding reducing the use of gas-powered vehicles and appliances, as well as refueling after 6 p.m. and avoiding oil-based paints and stains.

Three’s a chance for rain and thunderstorms tonight. It will be partly cloudy and warm overnight, with a low around 74 degrees.

Thursday will be sunny and even hotter, with highs around 95 degrees and heat index values as high as 105 to 110 degrees.

Due to the higher temperatures, the NWS has issued an Excessive Heat Watch across the area from noon to 9 p.m. on Thursday.

On Thursday night, there will be a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms that will fall away around dawn on Friday.

It will stay quite warm on Thursday night, with lows only falling to around 75 degrees under partly cloudy skies.

A cold front will start moving into the region late Thursday, bringing a chance for rain and gusty winds. However, Friday will be mostly sunny and slightly less hot, with highs around 91 degrees and heat index levels in the low 100s.

Rain chances will continue overnight. Storm chances will fall away around dark, but come back after midnight.

Otherwise it will be partly cloudy and cooler, with a low around 69 degrees.