As of 5:40 a.m. ET on Friday, March 13, skies are clear over Cincinnati's Lunken Field and the temperature is hovering around 41°F, but the calm look is a bit of a fake-out. A strong southwesterly wind is already gearing up, with gusts expected to ramp up through the morning and peak from mid-morning into mid-afternoon. Forecasters say the blustery setup could toss around unsecured items and make the commute a little more white-knuckle than usual.
Afternoon Winds Pick Up
Southwest winds are expected to run about 12 to 22 mph, with gusts pushing up to 45 mph. Isolated gusts of 55 to 60 mph are possible near and north of I-70, with the strongest blasts arriving from mid-morning through the afternoon. A Wind Advisory is posted, with pockets of High Wind Warning in place through the evening, which bumps up the odds of fallen limbs and a few scattered power outages. High-profile vehicles could feel it the most, and loose yard furniture is basically asking to go airborne, so secure anything that is not nailed down. For full details, check the National Weather Service.
How This Could Affect Your Commute
Drivers can expect gusty crosswinds on bridges and along riverfront routes this afternoon, while falling branches may slow traffic on neighborhood streets. The daytime high should climb to around 61°F before evening, with winds easing somewhat but staying on the blustery side into the night. Overnight lows are forecast to dip to about 34°F. Build in extra time for school runs and errands, and steer clear of routes lined with large trees when you can.
Weekend And Next Week
Sunday is on track to feel much more like spring, with the high potentially reaching the low 70s, before a front moves in and brings showers late Sunday night along with a solid shot at thunderstorms. Forecasters are calling for a 90% chance of rain Sunday night, with rainfall totals possibly landing between one half and three quarters of an inch. After that, colder air charges in and the area is expected to see a transition to rain and snow on Monday, with lows dropping into the low 20s by Monday night. If you are planning to be outside this weekend, keep an eye on forecast updates in case the timing or intensity shifts.
More From Hoodline
We previously covered the mid-week storms and earlier wind concerns in our March 11 report, which helps set the stage for today's conditions. For that earlier coverage, see our look at wild storms and 50 mph winds.
