Hoodie Weather Hits Northeast Ohio – But Are We Ready?

Northeast Ohio woke up to a crisp 50 degrees this morning, and if you reached for a hoodie instead of shorts, you’re not alone. A fall-like air mass has settled over the region, bringing October-style temperatures that have caught many off guard in the final week of August.

High temperatures today will only reach 68 to 73 degrees – at least 10 degrees below what we’d normally expect for late August. Morning lows dropped into the lower 50s, creating that unmistakable autumn feel that has people questioning their Labor Day weekend plans.

Labor Day picnics and pool parties suddenly seem less appealing when you’re digging through drawers looking for that first hoodie of the season. Grilling plans are shifting indoors, and those new summer outfits might have to wait until next year’s heat wave.

The dramatic temperature drop is being caused by a strong low pressure system passing north into Canada, creating a northwest wind pattern that’s ushering in cooler, drier air from up north. This slow-moving cold front is part of a larger weather pattern bringing temperatures up to 25 degrees below average across the Plains and Midwest.

Of course, there are always those hoodie enthusiasts who’ve been waiting all summer for this moment. Coffee shops are suddenly busier, and you can almost hear the collective sigh of relief from anyone who’s been suffering through the summer heat. But for most people planning outdoor Labor Day festivities, this weather shift feels premature.

The cool air mass moved in after a frontal boundary swept through the Great Lakes over the weekend. The interaction between the cool air and still-warm Lake Erie temperatures is creating scattered lake effect showers and rough conditions on the lake.

Monday and Tuesday will continue the cool trend with temperatures remaining in the 60s and blustery northwest winds. By Wednesday, sunshine returns but temperatures will still feel more like early October than late August. Relief appears on the horizon with temperatures climbing back to the low to mid 70s by the weekend – just in time for those rescheduled Labor Day plans.

The National Weather Service says this cooler pattern could hold through the last week of August and possibly beyond Labor Day. Whether you’re ready or not, hoodie season has arrived early in Northeast Ohio.

Time for a pumpkin spice latte!