High heat index prompts advisory for northeast Ohio

A heat advisory is in effect from 10 a.m. today to 9 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. Temperatures are expected to hit the mid-90s, with a heat index of up to 107, according to NWS. Hot, sunny weather and high humidity increase the risk of heat illnesses including exhaustion and heat stroke throughout Northeast, north-central and northwest Ohio. In addition, the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency has issued an air quality advisory for ground-level ozone for Lorain, Cuyahoga, Medina, Ashtabula, Geauga, Lake, Portage and Summit counties. Air quality levels may be "unhealthy for sensitive groups" during this time. That includes children, the elderly and those with breathing difficulties, who should have their outdoor activities monitored. As temperatures rise, Elyria residents can seek reprieve at South Rec, 101 S Park Drive; City Hall, 131 Court St.; or the Elyria Police Department lobby, 18 West Ave., according to Safety/Service Director Kevin Brubaker. South Rec and City Hall are open 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., while the Police lobby is open 24 hours for those seeking shelter from the heat. He said officials will be monitoring the weather throughout the day to determine if any other facilities should be opened. Those looking to beat the heat by swimming are reminded there are "no swimming" signs at Lakeview Park beach in Lorain. Lakeview Park is one of three swimming facilities operated by the County Metro Parks. There will be life-saving flotation devices nearby, should people go swimming and there is an emergency, and some Metro Parks staff will be around. Director James Ziemnik said Metro Parks encourages people not to swim when there are no lifeguards present. Complicating things: The agency has a shortage of lifeguards for the summer. "Beach lifeguard" is also a higher level of certification and training than "pool lifeguard" — Beach lifeguards must swim farther and dive deeper than pool lifeguards during training, Ziemnik said. The pay scale also is higher. "We'd love to hire lifeguards, but there's no applicants," he said. To apply to be a lifeguard, contact the Metro Parks administrative offices at the Carlisle Visitor Center, 12882 Diagonal Road in Carlisle Township, at (440) 458-5121. The other two swimming facilities are the Splash Zone at 95 W. Hamilton Road in Oberlin and the swimming facility at the Amherst HealthPlex on Hollstein Drive in Amherst. The pool at the Amherst HealthPlex is closed for renovation, Ziemnik said. Following a double drowning at Lakeview Park last month, Ziemnik said Metro Parks has ordered and planned to install life rings for when there aren't lifeguards on duty. "We're taking every reasonable step we can to keep people safe," he said. Additionally, Lorain's Central Park, Longfellow Park and Oakwood Park all have splash pads available. The National Weather Service urges individuals to drink plenty of water, wear loose-fitting, light-colored clothing, spend time in air conditioning and shade, take frequent breaks if outdoors and never leave children or pets alone in a closed vehicle. Young children, infants, pregnant women, older adults and those with chronic medical conditions are at an increased risk for heat-related illnesses. Temperatures are expected to remain high for the rest of the week, with Thursday's high expected to hit 90 degrees with a heat index of up to 95. Heat advisories are issued when the index is more than 100. Going into the weekend, temperatures are expected to dip to the low-to-mid 70s on Saturday and Sunday. Reporter Kevin Martin contributed to this report. Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com. Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.