Good news: Summer has arrived in north central Ohio. Bad news: It brought a flamethrower

You wanted summer weather?

You got it.

For everyone who spent spring and early summer wondering if the sun had permanently relocated to Florida, congratulations.

Your reward is a week that may have you questioning every life decision involving long pants.

The National Weather Service in Cleveland said Sunday that north central Ohio is headed for a prolonged stretch of hot, humid weather, with temperatures climbing into the middle 90s by midweek and heat indices pushing toward the triple digits.

The area includes Richland, Ashland and Knox counties.

After a perfectly reasonable Sunday with highs in the low 80s and a mix of clouds and sunshine, Mother Nature will likely turn the thermostat to “Ohio sauna” as residents head back to work.

Monday reaches the upper 80s before the real heat arrives. Forecast highs climb to 94 degrees Tuesday and peak around 96 degrees Wednesday, flirting with daily record highs. Thursday won’t provide much relief, with temperatures expected to remain in the lower 90s.

The NWS has issued a heat advisory in effect from Tuesday at noon to Thursday at 8 p.m.

Even overnight temperatures won’t offer much comfort. Lows will struggle to fall below the mid-70s. That means air conditioners across north central Ohio are about to earn every penny of our rapidly climbing electric bills.

The NWS warns the combination of heat and humidity could create dangerous conditions for anyone spending extended periods outdoors.

You remember the advice from last summer, right?

Drink plenty of water. Take frequent breaks in air conditioning or at least a cooling fan. Avoid strenuous afternoon activities unless sweating through every article of clothing is part of the plan.

Complete outdoor chores during the morning hours. Wear lightweight clothing and check on elderly neighbors and others who may not have access to air conditioning.

Never leave children or pets inside parked vehicles. When in doubt, always check when you leave your vehicle.

Please.

The first half of the week should stay mostly dry as a large dome of high pressure parks over the Great Lakes. By Friday, however, the atmosphere may finally decide enough is enough.

Scattered afternoon and evening thunderstorms are expected to return Friday and continue into the Independence Day weekend, adding potential natural fireworks to the evening skies.

The storms could briefly interrupt backyard cookouts and fireworks preparations, but they’ll also offer at least a chance to knock temperatures down a few degrees.

Even so, highs are expected to remain around 85 to 90 degrees through next weekend, keeping conditions well above normal for early July.

If you’re looking for one positive takeaway, remember this: six months ago people in north central Ohio were complaining about scraping ice off windshields, shoveling snow and wondering if spring had been canceled.

This week, nobody will be asking where summer went.