Some schools closing early amid high heat
Carroll High, Sidney city schools cut classes short; highs could hit 90 today.
It doesn’t take long outdoors to feel what is shaping up to be the Dayton area’s latest heat wave.
But how that heat feels indoors to students and teachers in classrooms depends on the district.
More area schools than ever have air conditioning in classrooms, but classes were cut short Monday in Sidney and at Carroll High School, which already announced early closing again today.
A heat wave is classified as three consecutive days or more at or above 90 degrees, said Storm Center 7 Meteorologist Kirstie Zontini. Since June, Dayton has had two weeks worth of 90-degree days. The list is expected to grow this week.
Monday’s highs were around 90 degrees, but the heat index made it feel between 95 and 100 degrees.
Today is expected to be another very muggy morning, but dry with sunshine and a few clouds through the day, Zontini said. Highs could hit 90 degrees with the heat index at 95 to 100 degrees.
Sidney City Schools let out two hours early Monday due to the heat. On Sunday, Carroll High School tweeted the school would let out early Monday and Tuesday
“due to extreme heat.”
Five of the seven buildings in West Carrollton City Schools don’t have air conditioning, and students return today for their first day of classes. Janine Corbett, district spokeswoman, said students will be encouraged to drink plenty of water, and building officials will use fans and ventilation to help cope. Sometimes, Corbett said, teachers take students outside in the shade and “do a lesson under a tree,” but that might not happen on the first day of school.
Lange School in Oakwood is fully air conditioned. In the other Oakwood City Schools buildings, most of the classrooms are cooled with win- dow units. Newer additions to the buildings have central air/heating, said Traci Hale, district spokeswoman.
All of Dayton Public Schools’ rebuilt schools have air conditioning. And long gone are the days when some teachers in Trotwood walked off the job in August 1995 to protest the lack of air conditioning. Schools in the district are now air conditioned, too.
The area’s main colleges and universities, including Sinclair College, the University of Dayton, Wright State University and Central State University, have air condi- tioning in major buildings. Over the past decade UD has invested in air conditioning for its first-year residence facilities — a change from this week in August 2007, for example, when school officials opened up the university’s air-conditioned recreational complex overnight for warm students.
Wednesday is expected to be hot and humid again, but storms are forecast to return. Scattered showers and storms with localized heavy rain and strong winds are possible, especially in the afternoon and evening. Highs are forecast in the mid-to-upper 80s, but it will feel like the mid-90s.
Thursday brings a passing shower or storm early in the day, the forecast shows. Clouds break for some sunshine late in the day with highs around 80 and not as muggy. Friday is “back to normal,” Zontini said, with sunshine, a few clouds and high temperatures in the low 80s.
Wednesday is expected to be hot and humid again, but storms are forecast to return. Scattered showers and storms with localized heavy rain and strong winds are possible, especially in the afternoon and evening.