Right now in Rochester, the air is about 68°F, but the model estimates the asphalt under your dog's paws is closer to 70°F — a gap of roughly 2°F, because the pavement is shedding the day's stored heat after dark. That reading puts Rochester in the clear for an ordinary walk. Air temperature alone would have told you none of this — the pavement, not the forecast, is what your dog actually stands on.
Only 2 hours of today are left in Rochester, and the pavement is not expected to climb past about 70°F in that time. The surface is already coming down, about 6°F over the next three hours, so waiting a little works in your favour here.
In an average August, Rochester sees highs around 79°F and overnight lows near 64°F. Those are forgiving numbers, but don't let them lull you — a sunny, still afternoon can still heat dark asphalt far above the air, especially for low-riding or short-coated dogs. As a seasonal rule of thumb, the safest windows are before about 12:00 PM and after about 3:00 PM.
Rochester loses its all-day safe window in 3 months of the year — June through August — and August is one of them. The year peaks in July at an average high of 81°F against 34°F in January, a 47°F swing that decides how much of the day belongs to your dog.
The nearest city we track is Amherst, roughly 61 miles from Rochester — far enough that its reading is no substitute for this one. Sun angle, humidity and cloud cover can all differ across that distance, which is why this page models Rochester on its own coordinates.
Whatever the number says, confirm it with your hand: press the back of it flat on the pavement for seven seconds. If you can't hold it there, neither can your dog. Conditions in Rochester are on the gentler side right now, but keep the same habits: water before and after, grass over asphalt, and a close eye on flat-faced breeds, seniors, and puppies, who overheat and burn sooner than a healthy adult dog.