Cleveland, Ohio – July finished with persistent heat and bursts of heavy rainfall across Northern Ohio and parts of Northwest Pennsylvania, causing headaches for commuters and anyone braving the outdoors. Multiple cities, including Cleveland and Akron, faced above-normal temperatures nearly every day, with the hottest stretch peaking at 96°F in Toledo and 94°F in Cleveland on July 24.
According to the National Weather Service, Cleveland received over five inches of rain—more than an inch and a half above the July average—leading to pockets of flooding and slick roads, especially near major highways like I-90 and I-77. Akron-Canton and Youngstown, meanwhile, ended the month drier than usual, heightening the risk for brush fires and leaving lawns brown across the suburbs.
Residents from Erie, PA to Mansfield dealt with both the heat and dramatic swings in rainfall. Mansfield saw more than five and a half inches of rain, about 1.5 inches above normal. Emergency managers urged Northeast Ohioans to keep storm drains clear, avoid flooded streets, and be cautious during power outages…