The heat is sticking around, folks. Both Columbus and Cincinnati should brace themselves for a few more days of the sweaty weather we've been having, with the National Weather Service (NWS) out of Wilmington reporting hot and humid conditions to persist. Light winds won't offer much relief, so it's a good time to make sure your fans are in working order or to seek out some air-conditioned comfort.
Don't expect to stay dry when you venture outside, either. The forecast today and tomorrow includes showers and the kind of thunderstorms that seem to come from nowhere, threatening to thoroughly soak anyone caught unprepared. As the "upper level ridging ... breaks down," expect a slight increase in moisture along with "higher PWATs" that bring the potential for "isolated pockets of very localized heavy rain," the NWS notes. It's advised to keep an umbrella handy, even if only to fend off a stronger wind gust that could sneak through, as "DCAPE parameters are forecast to approach 800 J/kg." Temperatures are predicted to hover near the mercury-busting 90s.
While evening might typically signal a respite from thunderous clamor, this isn't the case today. Storm activity might taper down a bit, but there's still a chance that some showers and storms could linger into the night, so keep your evening plans flexible. The forecast low firmly sits around a balmy 70 degrees, so those nighttime walks may just stay as sweaty as they've been.
Looking towards Wednesday, a weak cold front is going to try to drop into the Ohio Valley from the northwest. This front, however, is not expected to bring much relief but rather "help support chances for showers and storms ahead of the front especially in the afternoon hours," according to the NWS forecast. Mesoscale guidance indicates that storm activity is more likely southeast of I-71, while areas northwest can look forward to slightly cooler temps in the mid-80s. The southeast isn't as fortunate, with the thermostat continuing to tease the upper 80s.
For pilots, VFR conditions should hold up in the morning, but those afternoon cumulus clouds might throw a wrench in travel plans with potential isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms. There's enough storm activity probability to merit a PROB30 for aviation operations during these hours, although after 0000z Wednesday, thunder chances decrease enough to not mention it in terminal aerodrome forecasts (TAFs). However, visibility and ceiling reductions might start appearing post-0600z Wednesday. Winds will shift from southwesterly conundrums at about 5-10 knots back down to a light breeze overnight.
Thunderstorms could continue to be a part of our weather narrative through Thursday, so keep the storm gear close at hand. It's clear that traditional summer heat isn't quite ready to leave the stage just yet, so stay hydrated, stay cool, and maybe consider postponing that car wash—you might just get a natural one soon enough.
