Crank up the AC, break out the fans and the sunscreen and make sure to hydrate because it’s about to get toasty in Cincinnati.
On Friday, the National Weather Service released an Extreme Heat Watch for the Greater Cincinnati area, starting Sunday afternoon and extending through Tuesday evening, and possibly even Wednesday. We can expect dangerously hot conditions with possible heat index values up to 104 degrees.
NWS says the consecutive days of excessive heat and humidity can be especially dangerous as low temperatures will still be relatively warm and overnight hours won’t provide much relief. Keep an eye out for symptoms of heat-related illnesses, or hyperthermia, including cool, moist skin with goosebumps while in the heat; heavy sweating; fatigue; faintness or dizziness; muscle cramps; nausea; and headaches. Those most at risk for heat-related illnesses include the elderly, infants and children, people with chronic illnesses, people without access to air conditioning and people who are working outside or taking part in outdoor activities, such as sports practices.
The Cleveland Clinic has a guide to specific heat-related illnesses, ranging from milder cases like heat rash to severe ones such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke, their symptoms and actions to take if you begin experiencing symptoms here.
If you don’t have access to air conditioning, some ways to keep your home cooler include opening the windows at night, shutting blinds or curtains during the hottest parts of the day and positioning box fans outward on the hottest side of your home to push hot air out and inward on the coolest side to bring cool air in. If you have ceiling fans, you’ll want the blades to rotate counterclockwise to push the air straight down, and if you have exhaust fans, be sure to switch those on to draw hot air from the kitchen or bathroom outside.
Other tips include baking or washing at night, grilling meals outside or sticking to no-cook meals like salads to avoid running appliances during the hottest parts of the day. You can also run washcloths under cool water and apply those to your neck and wrists to cool off, and be sure to stay hydrated.
If you need a public space to cool down, Hamilton County Emergency Management has a list of cooling centers in the area, including:
- Cincinnati Recreation Centers
- Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Libraries
- Select YMCA of Greater Cincinnati locations (Blue Ash, Campbell, Clermont, Clippard, Gamble, Highland, Powel Crosley, ME Lyons and RC Durr)
These organizations will be open during normal operating hours during the week.
For more information on preparing for the heat wave, visit hamiltoncountyohio.gov.
This article appears in Jun 11-24, 2025.
