The latest forecast from the National Weather Service in Wilmington, Ohio, suggests that residents in the regions of Columbus, Cincinnati, Wilmington, and beyond should brace for the cold, with a warming trend on the horizon later in the week. According to the NWS report, an Arctic high pressure system will move off to the southeast, bringing less frigid conditions after a "bitterly cold morning."
Today, the service warns of wind chills ranging from 5 below to 15 below, with a cold weather advisory in place until 11 AM. As the week unfolds, a southerly flow develops across the region, setting the stage for a gradual rise in temperatures, notwithstanding the fact that the warming trend will be somewhat modest due to the persistent snowpack and very cold air mass.
Looking ahead to Tuesday, the area should expect thin high-level clouds with lows in the mid to upper teens. This relative calm sets the stage for a continued thaw as highs on Tuesday are projected to range from the low 30s in the north to the upper 30s south of the Ohio River.
The NWS anticipates a more noticeable warm-up towards Thursday, as a result of an increasing southerly flow due to an approaching cold front, notwithstanding an expected development of rain showers. Highs on Thursday could reach the upper 40s to the mid-50s. Yet, this brief respite will give way to another sharp cool down following the system's passage, with Friday's highs dipping back into the 20s and lower 30s.
As for aviation concerns, VFR clouds are expected to decrease this evening, though there could be some scattered MVFR category stratocumulus early on. Pilots should prepare for increased winds up to 20 kts this afternoon before they taper off tonight. For later in the week, the outlook suggests potential MVFR to IFR conditions from Thursday into Friday, a consideration for those with travel plans in the affected airspace.
