Ohio Valley residents better have their umbrellas at the ready, as the National Weather Service in Wilmington indicates a wet and chilly weekend ahead. According to NWS updates, a low-pressure system is stubbornly parking itself over the region, leading to what they’re describing as "cool, cloudy, and showery conditions."
Today, in particular, looks soggy with "widespread rain expected both today and Sunday," the service reports. While the forecast doesn't anticipate a widespread flooding event, they're keeping a cautious eye on isolated flooding risks, especially south of Interstate 70. This is partly due to the "30-day rainfall anomalies running between 150%-200% of normal," which has saturated the ground.
The NWS forecast shows high temperatures trailing typical averages for early May, dipping about 5-10 degrees below seasonal norms. This translates to highs ranging from the upper 50s west of Columbus and near Interstate 71 to the upper 60s in the lower Scioto Valley.
For those with evening plans in Cincinnati and surrounding areas, remember that chances of "several arcing bands of slow-moving soakers" could increase the flooding risk, especially as the showers are slow-moving. The forecast also mentioned that "PWATs remain well above normal" – a technical way of saying there’s much more moisture in the air than usual for this time of year.
Relief seems only a distant promise, with the National Weather Service forecasting that the "vertically-stacked low" will lead to more scattered showers on Monday and Tuesday. The good news is that drier conditions are expected to return by midweek. As pertains to aviation, travelers might face "widespread light RA [rain]... with IFR CIGs [Instrument Flight Rules Ceiling] will prevail through the daytime," meaning visibility could be tough for pilots, adding potential delays on the tarmac.
Beyond harbingers of wet socks and frizzy hair, temperatures will remain nippy, with "near to below normal temperatures" lingering well into the week. The chance of sunshine seems as elusive as a dry spell. As the week progresses, keep one eye on the skies and perhaps another on the latest NWS updates. It never hurts to be prepared.
