Residents of Cleveland can look forward to exceptionally warm weather and clear skies as high pressure dominates the region this weekend. According to the National Weather Service in Cleveland, temperatures are set to soar into the 80s, a few notches above the seasonal average for this time of year. The forecast, published early Saturday, promises dry conditions with the western counties experiencing the warmest temperatures in the mid to upper 80s.
The upcoming week will introduce a change in weather patterns as an upper-level trough and corresponding surface low move towards Quebec, shaking up the current high-pressure stability. This transition is expected to culminate in a cold front sweeping east on Tuesday and into the night, bringing along widespread showers with "QPF values generally 0.5 inches or less," as stated by the NWS in their area forecast discussion. Despite the rain, flooding concerns are dampened due to the prolonged dry spell the area has been under.
With the cold front's passage, locals should anticipate a noticeable drop in temperatures into the more seasonable low to mid 70s on Tuesday. Nighttimes will also cool down, with lows receding into the mid to upper 40s by Tuesday night. A Canadian high-pressure system will take hold the following days, reinforcing drier conditions and bringing about a much cooler climate with daytime highs in the low to mid-60s and overnight lows potentially leading to frost conditions.
For aviators, the current VFR conditions are forecasted to remain with "winds SSE less than 10kts." The NWS notes that "non-VFR will be possible with rain showers Monday night through Wednesday." Mariners should also be mindful of changing conditions. On Sunday, winds off the lake are anticipated to be tame, but come Sunday night through early Tuesday, those planning to be on the water can expect winds to kick up to 10-15kts, ahead of the strong cold front that will push through late Tuesday.
The NWS also alerts for increased wave activity on the lake, with "wave heights 3-6ft Wednesday" post-frontal passage, a potential concern for smaller crafts. Regardless, no advisories or warnings are currently in place, and the latter part of the week should see a return to calmer conditions.
