Toledo sets heat record for May 3
5/3/2012Today’s record-breaking temperature was all the motivation that Lauryn Vargas needed to send texts to her friends to meet later at the beach volleyball complex in International Park.
“I was excited. Some people were complaining about the heat, But I love it,” said Ms. Vargas, 22, who took a break at a picnic table near the sand court near the Maumee River in East Toledo.
The high temperature of 88 at 3:38 p.m. beat the old record, set in 1938, by one degree, according to the National Weather Service.
With a view of the downtown skyline, Ms. Vargas of Rossford and eight others were among the volleyball enthusiasts jumping in the cool sand at the complex. She said they were practicing for a weekend league that began competition last weekend.
Another warm day is forecast for Friday, though not quite as warm as today with temperatures expected to hit the high 70s. The record for May 4 is higher: 89, set in 1895.
Nearby on the river, Andrew Florey steered his 22-foot pleasure boat up to the dock to retrieve a boarding friend who joined them for an evening cruise.
Mr. Florey, 24, of West Toledo, Erin Gross, 24, of Holland, Craig Blausman, 22, of Bowling Green, and Nick Schimmoeller, 25, of Perrysburg, had spent the afternoon on wakeboards. They said the water temperature was 62 degrees.
“I couldn’t ask for anything better. I feel pretty fortunate,” Mr. Florey said.
“It was great to get out on the water after work,” added Ms. Gross.
Although the temperature was near perfect, the boaters felt it was a bit too breezy for their liking.
“I wish the wind wasn’t so bad. A little less breeze would be OK,” Mr. Florey said.
After setting three record highs during March — including an all-time high for the month of 85 degrees on consecutive days — and tying three others during a 15-day run of abnormal warmth, Toledo’s weather was relatively close to normal during April. That meant that, for only the second time in the city’s recorded history, April was cooler on average than March.