The heat is on: High temperature could top 100 in Ann Arbor Thursday
The pool will be a good place to be Thursday as afternoon highs near 100 degrees. Here, Duncan Riley, of Ann Arbor, holds his daughter Hazel, 3, as he covers his eyes while cooling off at Veterans Memorial Park Pool last week.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
If you were planning to mow the lawn or work in the garden Thursday, you might want to put it off. It’s going to be a scorcher, with the high possibly topping 100 degrees.
That's the word from Debra Elliott, observation program leader for the National Weather Service in White Lake Township.
Whether the thermometer actually reaches that high will likely depend on whether clouds move in in the afternoon, keeping temperatures down a bit, she said. “It’s hard to be too exact,” she said. “You could see temperatures a little higher or little lower.”
The weather service's official forecast calls for a high of 101 degrees. The agency issued a heat advisory in effect from noon to 9 p.m. for the Ann Arbor area.
The record for June 28 is 103 degrees, set in 1934 said University of Michigan weather observer Dennis Kahlbaum.
Temperatures this afternoon are expected to reach near 90. Friday, a high of 93 is forecasted, although thunderstorms could cool things off a bit for part of the afternoon. The chance of rain is about 30 percent.
The weekend will bring highs near 90 Saturday and Sunday. Monday will be a bit cooler with mostly sunny skies and a high of about 86.The heat wave comes in the midst of a prolonged dry spell, and follows a few days of 90-degree weather last week.
Thursday also has been declared an ozone action day for Washtenaw County. The Department of Environmental Quality said pollutants are expected to be in the unhealthy range for sensitive groups.
The alerts are issued when ground-level ozone and fine particle pollution exceed levels considered healthy. The department urges people and businesses to avoid activities that lead to ozone formation. These activities include refueling vehicles, using gasoline powered lawn equipment and using charcoal lighter fluid.
The department also urges people, especially those with respiratory conditions such as asthma, to avoid prolonged outdoor exertion.
If you do decide to brave the heat for a little outdoor exertion, you might consider a walk to Washtenaw Dairy, 602 S. Ashley St., for a cooling treat. Surprisingly, extra hot days are not the busiest for ice cream sales, said store manager George Cook.
“Sometimes it’s just so hot people don’t want to move around,” he said. “It’ll be a busy day, but it won’t be anything like a record.”
For updated conditions and forecasts anytime, check AnnArbor.com's weather page.
Looking for a way to cool off? Here's a map to some of the top destinations to beat the heat around Washtenaw County:
View Ann Arbor Summer in a larger map
Comments
Tru2Blu76
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 7:46 p.m.
You can tell that 67% of us are parked near an air conditioner today: the power interruptions began around 3 PM. It's a race just to type entries in forums (fora) like this one before the power outage shuts down my computer.
Bertha Venation
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 4:48 p.m.
If you're cooking breakfast on the sidewalk, I'll take mine scrambled, please. In the meantime, if anyone is looking for me, I'll be laying on the basement floor singing "Jingle Bell Rock" trying to stay cool.
jns131
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 4:26 p.m.
Willow Run at 12:30 is now 92. Yup, we are going to hit a record.
Madeleine Borthwick
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 3:02 p.m.
STILL praying for rain. Yep, I'm a broken record.
Modern_Atheist
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 10:47 a.m.
maybe if we were open carrying this HEAT wouldn't come to MY TOWN
KMHall
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 3:14 p.m.
...or a different city government, or less art, or fewer liberals....
treetowncartel
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 4:19 a.m.
Loving the heat, but we could use some precipitation.
a2xarob
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 4 a.m.
Street Cred - I have no idea what you're getting at. Could you please elaborate? Why not go to a pool?
Street Cred Swag For Real
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 1:14 a.m.
Yep, pools. Can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em. Pools are not a good idea, if you get what I get while I'm gettin' at it.
Bertha Venation
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 4:51 p.m.
As in: "We don't swim in your toilet. Please don't pee in our pool"?
Robo
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 1:22 p.m.
yeah what?
Modern_Atheist
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 10:12 a.m.
wat?
Street Cred Swag For Real
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 12:55 a.m.
I would recommend against visiting any pools. Rumour has it that the cat's out of the bag, if you know what I mean.
Modern_Atheist
Fri, Jun 29, 2012 : 9:57 a.m.
no, no one "knows what you mean"
Tru2Blu76
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 12:31 a.m.
Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska are already showing all-time record highs (100+ degrees) and one wildfire in Colarado has consumed over 5000 acres (over 8 sq. mi.) and is only 5% contained as of this evening. Weather Underground predicts a high of 104ยบ F. for Ann Arbor tomorrow. Public service reminder: If you meet a Republican on the road: you know what to do. All climate change deniers are to report to their nearest work camp immediately.
treetowncartel
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 4:19 a.m.
So, what do you have against lightning?
HereAndThere
Wed, Jun 27, 2012 : 11:16 p.m.
I guess I shouldn't be happy that my broken air condtioner can't get looked at 'til Monday...
jns131
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 4:24 p.m.
Finished basement and we are heading down there for the afternoon. Never had A/C and never will. Time to head north in the camper?
Madeleine Borthwick
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 3:01 p.m.
HereAndThere, you have my sympathy.
Modern_Atheist
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 10:12 a.m.
well maybe if you were open carrying your AC wouldn't be broken!!
treetowncartel
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 4:18 a.m.
Call Jet Stream Mechanical, they are great!
Tom Todd
Wed, Jun 27, 2012 : 9:01 p.m.
breaking Fox news Global warming does not exist.
zags
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 11:34 a.m.
No winter. March hotter than April. Clean coal. Yeah, must be the Liberal Agenda.
Tim Martin
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 2:06 a.m.
Yea, I mean, it's never been 100 degrees in Ann Arbor before ...
joe.blow
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 12:05 a.m.
So one or two hot days means global warming exists? Wow, great research, maybe you could teach a liberal arts class at UofM.
Morris Thorpe
Wed, Jun 27, 2012 : 8:51 p.m.
Weatherunderground claims 104.... http://www.wund.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=48103
MRunner73
Wed, Jun 27, 2012 : 11:12 p.m.
That is very possible.
MRunner73
Wed, Jun 27, 2012 : 7:57 p.m.
The National Weather Service has been hedging the past few days. Cloud cover would be a factor. If skies remain mostly sunny and the southwest really picks up, Ann Arbor should see temperature exceed 100 degrees. Several Ohio Valley cities will be well over 100 for several days, some may set new all time record highs.