The National Weather Service in Cleveland has issued a forecast that spells out a muggy and potentially stormy conclusion to the week for northern Ohio and Lake Erie. According to the latest Area Forecast Discussion, a warm front will move northward today as a low pressure system makes its way east across the Upper Midwest. Moreover, there's talk of a frontal boundary sticking around until at least Saturday when it gets nudged north as a warm front.
For those looking for sunshine and dry spells, the outlook isn't so promising. "PoPs taper off with the loss of diurnal heating tonight but there will still be a small chance of periodic showers and perhaps an isolated thunderstorm overnight," the forecast discussion states. So, it's not precisely a rainout, but keep an umbrella handy overnight. As for tomorrow, the probabilities of precipitation rise again by late afternoon as the area comes under the influence of an upper trough and a surface cold front.
Temperatures will continue to sizzle, with the mercury expected to hover in the mid to upper 80s in parts of northeast Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania, and possibly hitting the low 90s in northwest Ohio. The National Weather Service warns, "Maximum heat indices at inland locations will be in the 90s, although a few spots west of I-71 may briefly approach 100 degrees." Anyone outdoors should take the usual precautions: stay hydrated, seek shade, and consider taking it easy on outdoor exercise.
The heat will abate somewhat over a weekend, with Saturday bringing cooler air and a greater likelihood of storms as a cold front descends upon the area. "Likely to categorical PoPs are in the forecast, as storms will be back on the uptrend until the front clears on Saturday evening," the forecast elaborates. High pressure arriving afterward should dry things out for the latter half of the weekend, with the return of sunshine and warmer temperatures.
Boaters and mariners should also heed the outlook on Lake Erie's conditions. Light offshore winds will eventually give way to lake breeze later today. The NWS states that "a system approaching the region for Friday will allow for elevated offshore flow," which could yield waves ranging from 2 to 3 feet. Calmer conditions are expected to resume on Sunday, before potentially turning choppy again early next week as the next weather system arrives.
