Residents in Cleveland and surrounding areas should brace for a series of low-pressure systems expected to bring wet conditions and the potential for strong gusty winds, as detailed in the latest National Weather Service (NWS) forecast. Starting this evening, low pressure over Arkansas is set to move into the northern Great Lakes, ushering in a warm front and showers that are likely to persist into Saturday.
The NWS notes that the warm front will carry moisture and warmer temperatures across the region, causing a notable increase in clouds and showers, which are expected to weaken as they encounter a retreating shortwave ridge aloft and downsloping southeast flow. However, anyone across the area could see some rainfall through Saturday, possibly light rain persisting through the night. Temperatures are anticipated to remain mild, with highs today reaching the upper 40s and lower 50s and climbing mid-50s to around 60 on Saturday, despite winds picking up this afternoon through tonight, which may lead to some non-hazardous 20-30 MPH gusts, particularly in Northwest and North Central OH and the downsloping locations along the eastern lakeshore.
Looking ahead to Sunday and Monday, the forecast becomes more unsettish with a low-pressure system expected to deepen as it moves across the area, resulting in continuous, areawide rainfall, with total precipitation amounts hovering around 0.6-1 inch locally, leading to concerns for "nuisance flooding," as per the NWS's forecast discussion. There's also a risk of isolated severe weather owing to potential low instability and strong synoptic-scale lift in the region. Although current forecasts abstain from predicting thunderstorms, the possibility remains as the system develops.
Aviation and maritime sectors are advised to exercise caution, with the National Weather Service advising deteriorating flight conditions due to showers and MVFR potential into Sunday night. Lake mariners should anticipate deepening low pressure on Sunday with increasing wind and wave forecast uncertainty. However, strong west-to-southwest winds of 20 knots or greater are more certain Sunday night into Monday before conditions improve. Moving into Tuesday, yet another low-pressure system seems poised to sweep across the Ohio Valley, maintaining unsettled weather with additional rainfall and subsequent cooling to near-normal January temperatures.
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