As residents across Columbus, Cincinnati, Wilmington, and surrounding areas look up at the sky today, they might want to keep an umbrella at hand. The National Weather Service in Wilmington has indicated that a low pressure system will be bringing rain our way. "A low pressure system will approach the region today bringing rain to the area," specifies the forecast from NWS Wilmington, pointing to the fact that these unfriendly clouds will stick around through the week as "off and on rain chances will persist" due to multiple systems making a guest appearance in our airspace.
Rainfall totals are expected to take the lead in southeastern areas which are prepped to see several waves of the wet stuff throughout the day, and while slower-moving showers may hang out to the northwest, things should move along more quickly to the southeast; this suggests a soaked soil here and there, but widespread Noah's Ark scenarios seem unlikely. In a curriculum of forecast discussion that spans both logic and optimism, the NWS elaborates that "while pockets of heavier rainfall are expected, not expecting prolonged heavy rainfall" and thus they've scraped flooding off of today's hazard weather outlook. For those ready to wrap up in scarves and knit hats, hold your horses—temperatures will coast in the relatively mild zone from the upper 50s to the upper 60s.
Now, if showers are your thing, you'll be pleased to know that the low pressure classroom does not dismiss its students at the bell tonight; in fact, expect those showers to hang around after hours. Reduced visibility could impair our ability to see the hand in front of our face, or at the very least, create a need for careful driving and an alert eye on the road conditions.
The extended forecast doesn't hint at rainbows just yet. An upper level disturbance will bring more chances for precipitation into our hump day and beyond, with a possible pop quiz in thunder for southern regions. As Thursday rolls around, our academic weather metaphor finds us dealing with a closed upper-level low, and it's not until we reach next week's lesson plan that a ridge might hopefully bring homework of drier conditions and temperatures that aren't out of line with the seasonal norms. Until then, it's an array of diurnally enhanced chance pops, pretty much every day through Sunday, according to the NWS, keeping daytime highs cool enough to make one consider an impromptu coffee run.
Aviators, prepare for a turbulent ride through Saturday, with conditions fluctuating between IFR and LIFR ceilings and MVFR to IFR visibilities—just like the ups and downs of the academic year. Gradually, things should clear up, with ceilings lifting by Wednesday night, but keep the textbook handy, as we may be back to gray skies sooner than you'd like. For the complete weather lesson, visit NWS Wilmington for the most current briefing.
