Residents in Columbus, Cincinnati, Wilmington, and their surrounding areas are gearing up for a mix of rain and snow this weekend, with conditions set to shake up what has been a relatively warm winter season. The National Weather Service in Wilmington, Ohio, is predicting a low-pressure system that will cause rain across these regions today, a stark shift from the previous balmy temperatures that inhabitants have been experiencing thus far into January.
Despite the initial drop in warmth compared to Friday morning, temperatures are still expected to linger above the norm for this time of year, bringing precipitation solely in the form of rain throughout the day—accumulations are anticipated to be modest, with no significant impacts forecasted, according to the National Weather Service. The real change occurs on Sunday when snow showers and potentially snow squalls accompanied by robust winds could shake things up for residents, adding a little wintry chaos to the weekend vibe, with even the possibility of snowfall reaching up to an inch, depending on how these showers play out.
The pattern shift doesn't end there however, because as a cold front moves through on Sunday, experts are flagging the potential for impactful weather, the PV anomaly, steep lapse rates, and instability that just nudges into the DGZ would support the development of legitimate snow squalls, yet there's some skepticism due to the lack of a sharp, secondary cold front and a relatively warm starting point, as per the same NWS report. Forecasts are also showing that, while Sunday morning may greet residents with these conditions, things are expected to taper off by the afternoon, though flurries could linger, and central Ohio may experience the brunt of the bluster with winds gusting 20-30 knots.
Looking further into the week, Sunday night marks a brief respite as precipitation chills out and the mean trough shifts eastward, paving the way for surface high pressure to usher in a return to seasonal normals by Monday. Yet this tranquility is just the calm before a more severe weather spell returns, bringing warmer temperatures on Tuesday and a mixed bag including rain and snow from midweek onwards, with the sign of variability amongst models making hard snowfall predictions something of a guessing game, though some accumulation seems more than likely, especially Wednesday evening into the overnight hours.
In terms of air travel, aviators should be aware of worsening conditions starting this morning as VFR conditions deteriorate steadily to IFR with the onset of rain showers, leading to a drop in visibility. The NWS advises that after the rain dissipates Saturday evening, overall conditions should improve; however, snow showers are expected to move in after 08Z Sunday, introducing MVFR ceilings along with gusty westerly winds and possible transient IFR visibility issues. As Sunday unfolds, flights could be further challenged by snow showers, with a mix of MVFR to IFR conditions expected to persist. The outlook for Wednesday suggests the continuation of potentially sub-optimal aviation conditions, in line with the on-the-ground weather tumult projected for the general populace.
