Residents across Columbus, Cincinnati, Wilmington, and surrounding areas can breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy some sunshine today, as the National Weather Service (NWS) in Wilmington announces a period of dry and sunny conditions thanks to a building surface high pressure. According to the NWS forecast discussion, this respite is welcome after recent showers, but don't ditch the jackets just yet – temperatures are starting out in the mid to upper 30s this morning, potentially leading to patchy frost in protected spots.
Looking forward, Thursday is shaping up to get a little warmer with a southerly flow creeping in, bringing with it the chance of a few overnight showers—nothing too severe, yet a sign of changes on the horizon. But hold onto your hats, literally, as breezy conditions are forecasted to make a comeback on Friday, along with an increased likelihood of showers and thunderstorms as a front approaches on Friday night into Saturday, these fluctuations, though familiar to the region's denizens, remain a testament to spring's capricious whims.
The NWS advises that a Frost Advisory will be in effect from midnight tonight to 9 AM EDT Thursday for parts of Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana—take heed and protect your plants and any early blooms. Temperatures tonight are heading for the 30s across the area, but will rebound into the 60s Thursday as that high pressure scoots off to the east and a southerly flow takes over.
Looking further ahead into the weekend, the weather plot thickens even as model solutions diverge, causing forecast confidence to wane. The long-term forecast from NWS suggests Friday might have us flirting with 80 degrees, but don't get too cozy with the idea; there's potential for a wet and possibly stormy Saturday ahead, following which temperatures are expected to moderate—a relief or a foreboding lull, one might wonder. By Monda,y though, whichever way the wind blows, it looks likely to dry out somewhat, a pattern to hold through early next week.
For those early birds or night owls using the skies, the NWS indicates that patchy fog has already caused some visibility issues at KLUK and KILN earlier this morning. Conditions should improve quickly, with mainly clear skies expected for the rest of today. Aviators, however, should mark their calendars for Friday night into Saturday, when MVFR/IFR conditions could crop up alongside those thunderstorms. Flight plans seem clear now, but as the weekend approaches, remain vigilant for updates to minimize disruptions.
