The National Weather Service in Wilmington has issued a heat advisory for all of central Ohio as temperatures are expected to soar throughout the region and parts of the state.
The advisory went into effect at 11 a.m. July 28, and is set to expire at 8 p.m. on July 29, according to the weather service.
The advisory applies to Franklin, Licking, Pickaway, Fairfield, Madison, Delaware, and Union counties. According to the weather service, the heat index value is expected to top 100 degrees in some parts of the state.
In response to the hear advisory, the Central Ohio Transit Authority announced that all transit fares would be waived on July 29. The no-fare policy will be in effect for the entire day and applies for all transit services, the transit service said.
"COTA offers this community service to encourage individuals who need to reduce exposure to extremetemperatures to have a safe and reliable means of transportation to access facilities that provide relief,including warming and cooling centers, libraries, recreation centers, and other places of shelter," COTA said in a news release.
The weather service warned that the hot temperatures may cause heat illnesses and encouraged people to drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned rooms, and check on relatives and neighbors.
Fairfield County braces for more flooding
Meanwhile, Fairfield County is still surveying damage after weekend storms that barreled through central Ohio flooded several homes and washed away sections of roads. The storms prompted rescues at area apartment complexes and the evacuation of a dog boarding facility, The Dispatch previously reported.
Fairfield County EMA Director John Kochis spent the morning of July 28 with teams surveying the damage from the floods. He said they are working to assess damage and plan to seek a disaster declaration from the state.
Kochis said July 28 that officials in Fairfield County are on guard for more flooding. They are speaking to the National Weather Service on a sometimes hourly basis, he added.
The NWS also sent teams to Lancaster, Kochis said.
The weather service said that more storms across central Ohio are possible.
https://radar.weather.gov/station/KILN/standard
Columbus forecast, severe weather outlook for week of July 28, 2025
Monday Night: There is a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 p.m. It will be mostly cloudy with a low around 74. There will be a light and variable wind. Less than 1/10th of an inch of rain is expected, except more could fall if there are storms.
Tuesday: It will be mostly sunny with a high near 94. There will be heat index values as high as 102. There will be a light north wind.
Tuesday Night: It will be partly cloudy with a low around 75. There will be a light and variable wind.
Wednesday: There is a slight chance of showers, then there is a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11 a.m. IT will be mostly sunny with a high near 92. There will be a calm wind that will start moving northwest around 6 mph in the afternoon. The chance of precipitation is 50%. Less than a tenth of an inch of rainfall is expected, except more could fall if there are storms.
Wednesday Night: There is a chance of showers and thunderstorms. It will be mostly cloudy with a low around 69. The chance of precipitation is 40%. Between a tenth and 1/4 of an inch of rain is expected, except more could fall if there are storms.
Thursday: There is a chance of showers and thunderstorms. It will be mostly cloudy with a high near 81. The chance of precipitation is 50%.
Thursday Night: It will be partly cloudy with a low around 63.
Friday: It will be sunny with a high near 81.
Friday Night: It will be mostly clear with a low around 60.
Saturday: It will be sunny with a high near 82.
Saturday Night: It will be mostly clear with a low around 61.
Sunday: It will be mostly sunny with a high near 82.
This story was updated with additional information.
Dispatch reporters Bailey Gallion and Nathan Hart contributed to this story.
Reporter Shahid Meighan can be reached at [email protected], at ShahidMeighan on X, and at shahidthereporter.dispatch.com on Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Heat advisory issued for central Ohio counties, more storms expected
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