You might (cough, cough) want to consider (cough, cough) calling in sick to work on Friday.
The National Weather Service says this winter heat wave will end with a bang — literally — on Friday.
“Friday will be the warmest day of the week with temperatures soaring into the upper 60s to lower 70s,” the weather service says. “But change is on the way.”
And that change will come in the form of strong to severe storms Friday evening with “damaging winds” possible as a cold front makes its way across Northeast Ohio.
The weather warns there might also be a threat of a tornado with the storms.
But first it will be warm.
Thursday’s high is predicted to be 66 in Akron and that would break a record of 63 degrees set in 1906.
And it is expected to be even warmer on Friday with a high of 72 degrees possible. This would break the previous record high of 68 for the day set back in 1961.
This could match or beat the warmest day ever recorded in February when it hit 72 degrees on Feb. 26, 2000.
This would be the second and third times in a week that the Akron area enjoyed record setting warm temperatures.
The Akron-Canton Airport recorded a record high of 68 degrees Saturday afternoon — breaking the old mark of 60 degrees in 1981.
But the passing of the thunderstorms Friday will bring back a dose of winter reality as the weather service warns temperatures will “plunge” back to the more normal range of the mid 30s by Sunday.
Take heart, temperatures are expected to be back in the 50s by Tuesday.
Craig Webb, who might (cough, cough) develop a sudden illness Friday, can be reached at cwebb@thebeaconjournal.com or 330-996-3547.
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