Columbus may be in for a warmer-than-usual fall

What to expect: According to the NWS, Ohio has a 40-50% probability of above-average temperatures this season.

State of play: Summer temperatures are hanging around longer here and nationwide compared to the early 1970s, a new analysis finds.

• Among cities with lingering heat, summer temperatures are lasting an extra 10 days on average.
• Columbus is below that with an extra five days.

Context: Columbus just broke an 86-year-old record for driest stretch between August and mid-September, and NWS projections are unclear about whether we should expect a wetter fall.

• Our seasonal precipitation outlook has an equal chance of above- or below-average figures.

The big picture: Columbus may have enjoyed our mild August, but we were outliers.

• This past August was Earth's third-warmest on record, going back to 1850, per the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which notes that the 10 warmest Augusts have all come since 2015.

What's next: Early forecasts also call for above-normal temperatures during the November-January period for much of the country, though predictions could change over time.

Go deeper: It's not just you: Summer is sticking around longer