Those in the Columbus, Cincinnati, and Wilmington areas might want to enjoy the unusually high temperatures while they can. The National Weather Service in Wilmington, Ohio, has forecasted a significant drop in temperatures following today's heat. According to the latest forecast discussion, expect strong southerly winds to carry in much above normal temperatures for the day. But this balmy weather is just the overture to a more tempestuous act, as a strong cold front is set to sweep through the region Sunday morning, bringing showers, gusty winds, and a noticeable dip in the mercury.
This front is the result of a deepening surface low over Illinois, which is predicted to intensify and head north-northeast. Historical temperatures are likely to be matched or perhaps exceeded, with Columbus potentially hitting a record set back in the 1930s and again in 2016, though Dayton and Cincinnati's higher records are expected to remain unchallenged. But don't let the warm-up fool you. The NWS advises that we are to quickly brace for an abrupt cooldown, with a trailing cold front to cross the forecast area on Sunday morning. Showers will mostly hold off until this front approaches, but the NWS warns that we should be prepared for gusty conditions that might persist into the afternoon.
On the aviation side of things, conditions look to get a little tricky with a scattered to broken 6-8kt deck spreading across the region. For those taking to the skies, southerly winds will pick up with afternoon gusts around 20 kt. Come evening, low-level wind shear will rear its head as a jet moves across the area, possibly followed by late-night showers starkly contrasting the day's earlier heat. Pilots and passengers can expect MVFR ceilings and visibilities as well as gusty winds, as per the National Weather Service aviation outlook for the period.
Looking ahead into next week, the tumult of weather will be short-lived, as yet another long-wave trough is queued up to deliver another cold front by Tuesday. This one seems like it won't pack quite the same punch. The NWS suggests any showers may only be scattered. But frequent flyers take note: Wind gusts at or above 30 kt are possible Sunday morning and then again late Sunday afternoon into early Sunday evening. For the rest of us, after a spell below norm temps, the atmosphere is likely to equalize by midweek, serving up a side of "normal." But for now, it's a classic case of Ohio weather whimsy: enjoy today's shorts-and-tee weather while it lasts, because Sunday's forecast is all jacket and umbrella.
