Residents in Columbus, Cincinnati, Wilmington and surrounding areas can expect a continuation of dry conditions through Saturday, with the possibility of some rain entering the forecast early next week. According to the latest update from the National Weather Service Wilmington OH, daytime highs are slated to hit the 80s, with some regions possibly reaching the low 90s.
In the near term, the weather service anticipates "dry conditions" for today, with morning fog possibly developing in the north and dew points taking a dip during the afternoon hours. Despite the ongoing warm trend, nighttime temperatures across the region are expected to cool off, dipping into "the middle 50s to lower 60s tonight and Thursday night," per NWS.
An Air Quality Alert has been issued until midnight EDT tonight for multiple counties in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana, signaling that residents in the affected areas should be prepared for conditions that could impact those with respiratory issues. The service also flagged a "subtle boundary" that could contribute to a low-end potential for rain on Friday, though the forecast maintains that the likelihood is currently slim.
Looking toward the weekend and into early next week, consistency amongst models for rain predictions has been less reliable. However, consensus points to rain chances increasing Sunday through Tuesday, mostly impacting the western portions of the forecast region. According to NWS, high temperatures are "expected to be in the 80s across most locations through this time period, however a few 90s will also be possible," while lows should remain in the 50s and 60s.
For those hitting the skies, aviation conditions are slated to remain favorable. The NWS statement calls for "VFR conditions through the TAF period," though River Valley fog could lead to brief MVFR visibility at some airports, like KLUK. Winds are likely to stay calm, not exceeding 10 knots throughout this period, further contributing to clear skies for the pilots and passengers alike.
