Brace yourselves, folks in Columbus, Cincinnati, and beyond, as the National Weather Service predicts a weather rollercoaster this week. According to their latest NWS Area Forecast Discussion, after a transient grace of high pressure, we’re staring down the barrel of a strengthening low-pressure system that's poised to bring breezy conditions along with a mix of rain and snow, followed by a plunge into very cold territory come Wednesday night and Thursday.
Columbus and Cincinnati residents had started their day with chilly conditions and some stubborn flurries. Cloud cover was expected to linger in the morning due to moist air trapped under the high-pressure lid, but skies should articulate a clearer story as we move through the daylight hours. However, don't expect a significant temperature uptick. We’re told to anticipate highs just above the freezing point.
As evening approaches, the shift in high pressure will prompt winds to adopt a more west-southwesterly attitude. But this is merely the calm before the storm. Overnight, a tightening pressure gradient as a low-pressure system approaches will cause winds to rise, with gusts hitting an edgy 20 to 25mph in parts of eastern Indiana and west-central Ohio. "Winds strengthen area wide through the mid-morning and early afternoon before leveling off in the 30 to 35mph range," the National Weather Service warns. And keep your hats anchored — gusts surging to 40 mph aren't off the table.
Precipitation, once thought to drench us early Wednesday, has been granted a delayed entrance. We may see scattered sprinkles or rogue ice pellets by the afternoon. When night falls, switch to snow mode, particularly north of I-70. "Chances for snow increase into the long term along with better chances for higher wind gusts," the NWS forecasters elaborate. The cold blast will prevail, so if you cherish warmth, Wednesday's wind chill, still biting like the teens up to noon, will be anything but pleasant.
As for aviation interests, variable skies and spells of sub-optimal visibility are expected. The National Weather Service also flags some potential low-level wind shear (LLWS) for the early risers on Wednesday. Not to harrow you further, but the reports add a certain gustiness to Wednesday’s narrative, forecasting winds increasing through the night and carrying the vigor through Thursday morning, along with mentions of potentially disruptive MVFR CIGs.
Once this tempest-tossed chapter shuts, a period of tranquility awaits. "Surface high pressure will build across the Ohio Valley on Friday," the NWS forecast tells us, promising a gradual restoration of balminess with "temperatures by Sunday will be back to near normal with daytime highs in the 40s." While we may flirt with rain early next week, we'll bask in decidedly less mercurial weather for a brief window.
