Right now in Cleveland, the air is about 70°F, but the model estimates the asphalt under your dog's paws is closer to 107°F — a gap of roughly 37°F, because a mix of sun and cloud is still loading heat into the asphalt. That reading puts Cleveland 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.
Across the 10 hours left today, the pavement in Cleveland is projected to top out near 110°F around 3 PM, when the air will be about 71°F — a 39°F gap between the forecast your weather app shows and the surface your dog walks on. The surface is holding roughly flat over the next three hours, so there is no meaningfully cooler hour coming soon — choose shade and grass rather than waiting it out.
In an average August, Cleveland sees highs around 77°F and overnight lows near 67°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.
Cleveland 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 79°F against 36°F in January, a 43°F swing that decides how much of the day belongs to your dog.
The nearest place we track is Akron, about 30 miles away. That is close enough to move together in a heat wave but far enough that a passing cloud bank or a coastal breeze can put real distance between the two readings, so check Cleveland's own page rather than assuming.
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 Cleveland 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.