1998 Honda Accord Air conditioning cuts out as engine temp

Hello Team,

I have a 1998 accord with 215,000 kilometers on it. This car is perfect in everyway except when running the air conditioning.

On normal days, the temp needle ranges from about 1/3 - 1/2. If I drive on the freeway while averaging about 120 km/h, it tends to rise to about 1/2 to slightly above half.

On the hot days I usually enjoy rolling up the windows and turning on the AC. When I do this, the gage slowly starts to rise up into the 2/3 to 3/4 range. When the needle his 3/5 or so, the AC cuts out and it start blowing hot sticky air again. I can then turn the AC off, let it cool slitghtly and repeat the process. Keep in mind that the temp needle never gets to the top of the guage.

Needless to say this process happens more quickly the hotter the outside temp is, which is ironically when I want the AC the most :(

I would like to know if there is some kind of saftey switch that is being triggered to prevent engine over heating, of it this is just some kind of anomoly.

Also, what components could I be checking myself to fix this.

Thanks.