Ohio's Wilmington, Columbus, and Cincinnati residents should brace for a mix of weather conditions as we head into the weekend. The National Weather Service in Wilmington has issued a forecast noting that breezy southerly winds will bring in unseasonably warm temperatures today, with highs reaching into the upper 70s to lower 80s. However, it's not all sunshine and warmth; there's a change coming tonight.
"Showers and thunderstorms will develop across the area tonight, and continue through the day on Saturday as a cold front moves into the Ohio Valley," stated the NWS report. In addition to the storms, winds could get gusty today, potentially hitting the 30 to 40 mph range. While the temperatures stay mild through the night, mostly in the 60s, the front marching in from the west means that rainwear should be at the ready for late night festivities and into the weekend.
As the cold front progresses, Saturday is looking wet. Expect "widespread showers and embedded thunderstorms," NWS cautions. The severity of the storms might be curbed due to "fairly marginal" instability, which, according to the experts should "help limit the overall severe threat during the day on Saturday." For those looking for a break in the downpour, it appears the bad weather won’t be as intense as it could be.
Looking past the weekend, the weather seesaws continue. The stalled front hanging around will mean an extended shower and storm chances, with temperatures playing a rollercoaster game – cooler in the north, and warmer south of the Ohio River. A low-pressure system will sweep in by Sunday night, lifting the boundary and maintaining warm, moist conditions paired with continued shower or storm chances. Severe weather seems unlikely, given the "very weak" instability forecasted early in the week.
Clear skies may soon follow, with "cooler and drier air" set to move across the region on Tuesday and Wednesday. However, by the week's end, Ohio might see a replay, with southerly flow and rain chances cropping up again. Flyers should also note that the varied conditions could lead to "MVFR/IFR conditions possible along with a chance of thunderstorms into Saturday night," per NWS.
