It's another classic autumn day in Ohio, with sunny skies and warm temperatures courtesy of a stubborn high-pressure system gripping the region from the Tennessee Valley through the Mid-Atlantic, according to the National Weather Service. You might want to dig out those summer shorts again because forecasts show highs in the lower 70s for Columbus and Cincinnati, a solid 5 to 9 degrees above the seasonal average. You're not imagining it—yes, it's hotter than it should be this time of year.
Those clear skies look set to stay with us as we roll into the evening and beyond, so if you're into stargazing, this might be your week. However, if you live in the valleys, expect some early morning fog that might force you to slow down your commute. It will, however, dissipate as the morning progresses—just a heads up. Overnight temperatures are flirting with a more excellent range, dropping to the upper 30s in the east but staying in the more moderate mid-40s out west. The warming trend is expected to persist into Monday, with thermometers tipping into the mid and upper 70s.
Looking ahead at the long term, starting Monday night into the bulk of the coming week, the dry spell continues with only the occasional cirrus cloud drifting over from the west to mar otherwise clear skies; "Seasonably warm air mass in place at the beginning of the work week," reports the National Weather Service. Wednesday might see a brief flirtation with a cold front, but it seems unlikely to bring much more than a passing shower—if that. The rest of the week should stay moderate, with temperatures below or near normal.
As for the flyers, the aviation outlook is as calm as a millpond. Clear conditions and a cooperative high-pressure system mean we're looking at widespread VFR (Visual Flight Rules), except some pesky river valley fog at KLUK, which could lead to IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) visibility restrictions developing overnight for those taking off in the early hours, a quick mental note to plan accordingly. The rest of the aviation sector should see smooth sailing—or rather, flying—with, according to the National Weather Service, "no significant weather expected" to jolt the skies, as the local weather authorities said.
