Cleveland's penchant for unpredictable weather has been making headlines again, and it looks like we're in for a bit more of a rollercoaster. According to the National Weather Service in Cleveland, today, scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms are possible. While likely to stay sub-severe, these thunderstorms could still bring gusty winds and some nuisance flooding.
Temperatures are set to tip the scales into the low 70s come afternoon, with overnight lows hovering near a more humid 60 degrees, but don't get too comfy with the warmth because a more dramatic shift is on the horizon. A cold front on Friday after a lead-up of a toasty Thursday promises to crank up the heat — and the potential for some intense weather action. We're talking thunderstorms that could edge into severe territory, with hail and damaging winds. Let's not forget the potential for what weather folks call "discrete or semi-discrete storms," which could mean a few supercells are possible.
For those already feeling the pressure of the weather's mood swings, there's a brief respite in the form of an upper-level ridge building from the west, which might just push that pesky upper trough out of our hair by tonight. However, unsettled weather will return after sunset on Thursday. With the high temps set to hit the upper 70s to lower 80s by tomorrow, the warm-up is the prelude to the anticipated thunderous performance later in the evening, as outlined by the NWS's forecast discussion.
As if that's not enough, a dance of dueling fronts implies a second round of potentially strong to severe storm activity late Friday into the wee hours. If you've got plans, keep an eye on the sky — or your weather app — as conditions are ripe for some seriously warm and stormy weather, perhaps even flirting with record highs. Following Friday's fireworks, don't think it's time to hang up the raincoat just yet; an upper-level trough on Saturday means we could see some leftover showers near Lake Erie as we transition into a markedly cooler end to the weekend.
Marine enthusiasts and professionals should take note: despite a lull with light and variable winds today, Lake Erie's conditions are set to oscillate along with the weather pattern shifts. Expect a ramp-up in winds late Thursday through Saturday, with possible gusts strong enough to warrant Small Craft Advisory notices, so keep that in mind if you're planning to be on the water. The National Weather Service predicts that by Sunday, a Canadian high-pressure system should swoop in, nudging temperatures below average and offering a more tranquil, if cooler, close to the current spat of climatic chaos.
