No power means no AC: Heat advisory in effect in Richland County on Tuesday from noon to 9 p.m.

MANSFIELD — This is not the time to be without air conditioning. But here we are today for many of us.

Nearly 60,000 customers across north central Ohio lost power overnight Monday and into Tuesday after powerful thunderstorms packing high winds roared through the area.

And now with many people losing access to artificial cooling, the National Weather Service in Cleveland is about to drop another meteorological hammer.

The weather agency has issued a heat advisory today from noon to 9 p.m. for an area that includes Richland, Knox and Crawford counties.

Heat index values of up to 100 this afternoon and up to 106 on Wednesday afternoon expected are expected.

Click here for information about weather-related illnesses.

Lexington Village Hall at 44 W. Main Street is opening its doors as a cooling center until 6 p.m. for senior citizens and others who may need to escape the heat. The building has air conditioning and electric, ideal for those who are on oxygen. 

The sun will gradually come through the clouds this afternoon, firing up the heat cycle that will take us to near 90 degrees in temp with higher than normal humidity for this time of year.

It will dip down to around 75 tonight before the heater kicks in again Wednesday to bring us near 94 on the thermometer.

There is a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms overnight Wednesday with a low around 77. The chance of precipitation will only be about 20 percent.

Unstable weather returns Thursday with a chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 a.m. and again after 11 a.m. The high Thursday will be around 91.