The National Weather Service has released its latest forecast for the Columbus and Cincinnati regions, with some notable weather patterns expected to influence conditions through the next week. Today, as a cold front sweeps through the area, locals can expect a chance for showers and a few thunderstorms; meanwhile, southerly flow will lead to above-normal temperatures, according to the weather bulletin issued by the NWS.
Highs today will range from the upper 60s in the northwest to the upper 70s south of the Ohio River, even as precipitation begins to ease up. This weakening trend is predicted to continue through the morning. Despite the drier airmass currently in place across the region, which will see the showers and storms begin to dissipate, scattered showers and perhaps a few thunderstorms will still redevelop later in the afternoon and early evening, especially in the southeast of the front.
As we head into the evening and overnight, any lingering showers are expected to taper off, with the front moving off to the southeast and surface high-pressure building in. "Highs on Saturday will be in the upper 50s to lower 60s," the National Weather Service forecast discussion states. Saturday night is predicted to be particularly chilly, with lows dropping into the mid to low 30s, signaling some of the coldest temperatures for the period.
The upcoming work week ushers in a warming trend with strong warm air advection pushing daytime highs to the mid to upper 70s by midweek, but, as ensemble guidance suggests, a cold front is expected to arrive by Halloween evening, bringing with it only meager instability and about 0.10-0.25 inches of precipitation, after which the forecast becomes less certain with models struggling to resolve a potentially active pattern for the days following Halloween.
Aviation forecasts for the area reflect similar trends, with scattered showers and storms possible, especially to the north of I-70 early on. Still, as the front pushes through, VFR (visual flight rules) conditions should prevail today into tonight. Winds will shift and increase in speed, becoming south to southwest at 10 to 15 knots before the front, shifting to westerly and northwesterly as it passes through the region, the NWS discussion details. Travelers and commuters should note that gusty winds could be on the agenda by Tuesday.
