Residents of Cleveland and the surrounding areas are bracing for a mix of weather events this week as the National Weather Service in Cleveland delivers a forecast filled with high pressure, low pressure, and gusty winds. Northeast Ohio and Northwest Pennsylvania started their days with cloudy skies and some lingering snow showers, mainly a result of synoptic-scale moisture with a dash of lake enhancement due to cooler temperatures aloft. However, clearer skies are on the horizon, with the National Weather Service predicting "mostly sunny skies by this afternoon."
The weather shift comes as high pressure is moving in from the west, and it's expected to be followed by a low-pressure system mid-week that could affect the region significantly. "Low pressure will take shape over the Plains on Tuesday and begin lifting northeast Tuesday night and Wednesday," reported the National Weather Service, bringing "warm, dry, and breezy to windy" conditions through Wednesday. Notably, Wednesday may see wind gusts between 30-40 MPH, and there's some potential for 45 MPH gusts west of I-71. With these conditions, the area could be at risk of brush and field fires.
The window of sunny weather will be brief as the low-pressure system tracks through the northern Great Lakes and pushes a cold front over Lake Erie on Wednesday night, introducing rain showers into Thursday morning. Sullivan, a forecaster from the National Weather Service, has detailed what to expect: "Low dew points and poor mid-level lapse rates should preclude instability from developing, so I am not carrying a thunder mention and am not expecting any severe weather with the front Wednesday night." The following cold air advection could result in a slight chance for snow showers, especially in the snowbelt areas, although no accumulation is expected during daylight hours on Thursday.
Marine conditions are also set to change. Winds on Lake Erie are predicted to shift and increase in speed towards Wednesday night through Thursday, with the National Weather Service advising that "High pressure builds quickly Thursday night into Friday, bringing quickly improving marine conditions." Fishermen and boaters should be prepared for the possibility of needing to navigate Small Craft Advisories late Wednesday through Thursday.
The weekend should bring a weakening shortwave across the region, introducing light rainfall chances. However, the forecast shows temperatures at or slightly above normal, pointing towards a relatively mild weekend following the mid-week tumult. The fluctuating weather reminds us that spring in the Midwest has a temperament as varied as the winds that drive it.
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