Friday, June 26, 2009
YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning Valley heat wave will stay until Monday, when the temperature is expected to drop below normal.
The temperature rose to 90 degrees Thursday afternoon in the Valley, according to the National Weather Service in Cleveland.
It was the first time the Valley reached 90 degrees since Sept. 3, 2008, when it was 92 degrees.
The Valley has about 10 days a year, typically between late June and August, when the temperature reaches at least 90 degrees, said Martin Mullen, a meteorologist with the weather service.
Wednesday’s high temperature was 87 degrees. The highs for Monday and Tuesday were 83 degrees.
The high temperature will be in the low 80s today and Sunday and reach the mid-80s Saturday.
The average high for this time of the year is 80 degrees, according to National Weather Service statistics.
“We’re finally seeing some summer temperatures,” Mullen said.
Jarek Esarco of Canfield, walking Thursday in downtown Youngstown, said he enjoys the high temperatures.
“I’m a big fan of the sun and hot weather,” he said. “I love being outside when it’s this hot. I enjoy this a lot better than the snow.”
Larry Payne of Youngstown took a walk Thursday because of the temperature.
“I love the outside,” he said. “I don’t mind this at all. Actually, I really like it.”
The same couldn’t be said of Carl Venable of Youngstown, who grabbed a pizza with Karmen, his 10-month-old daughter.
“I don’t like being overheated, and that’s how I feel now,” he said holding his daughter against his body with his right arm and a pizza box in his left hand. “I like it to be warm, not this hot. Also, the hotter it is, the crankier [Karmen] gets. We like it a lot better inside.”
Venable and his daughter will be pleased when a cold front arrives late Sunday, dropping the high temperatures Monday and Tuesday to the mid-70s.
“That will knock us down by almost 10 degrees,” Mullen said.
Next week’s long Fourth of July weekend should be ideal for traveling — high temperatures in the upper 70s and only a small chance of rain.
But rising gas prices and the lingering economic uncertainty means less people on the road during the holiday, typically the busiest travel time of the year, according to AAA.
AAA expects a 1.9 percent decrease in those taking trips of 50 miles or more from their home on this July 4 weekend compared to last year.
In 2008, 37.8 million Americans traveled at least 50 miles from their home during the July 4 weekend, according to AAA. The travel organization expects that number to be 37.1 million next weekend.
In 2007, that number was 42.3 million.
“Many Americans remain cautious about the outlook for their personal finances, and these attitudes are reflected in the slight decline in travel we are forecasting for the upcoming holiday weekend,” said Jim Lehman, AAA’s senior vice president.
The travel organization estimates the average family going at least 50 miles from home will spend $1,160 during the July 4 weekend.
Transportation and hotel accommodations will account for about half the spending, with food and drinks making up 20 percent, according to AAA. The remaining expenses will be for shopping, entertainment and recreational activities.
skolnick@vindy.com
THE FORECAST | Mahoning Valley
From the National Weather Service for this weekend and the Fourth of July weekend.
TODAY: Partly cloudy with a high in the lower 80s dropping to the upper 50s later tonight.
SATURDAY: Partly cloudy with a high in the mid-80s dropping to around 60 degrees at night.
SUNDAY: A 50 percent chance of thunderstorms and showers starting early Sunday with a high in the lower 80s. The low Sunday night is expected to be in the upper 50s.
FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND
The weather service’s long-range forecast calls for temperatures slightly below normal for the Fourth of July weekend. The normal high is 80 degrees and the normal low is 58 degrees.
Source: National Weather Service