Columbus started Saturday, April 4, 2026, under mostly cloudy, muggy skies and mid-60s temperatures at John Glenn Columbus International Airport, the kind of heavy air that hints the day is not staying quiet for long. By afternoon, readings climb into the low 80s, and after 2 p.m. a fresh round of showers and thunderstorms could bubble up. South winds of 6–18 mph, with gusts up to 30 mph, may turn outdoor plans into a bit of a wind tunnel.
Afternoon Storms And Stiff Winds
Storms are expected to fire along a pre-frontal trough late this afternoon into the early evening. Many cells should be brief, but a few isolated storms could pack damaging straight-line winds. Forecasters say the primary concern is sudden, strong wind gusts rather than widespread hail or tornadoes, so any stronger cell could bring a quick burst of very gusty air. Keep radar handy and be ready to head inside if warnings are issued, according to the National Weather Service.
Evening And Overnight Impacts
Shower and thunderstorm chances ramp up overnight, with the most widespread activity expected before about 3 a.m. Some spots could pick up a quarter to a half inch of rain. Winds swing around to the west after about 8 p.m. and stay on the breezy side, west at 10–16 mph with gusts near 28 mph, which might slow evening drives or complicate outdoor events that try to push through the weather. For background on how this system has been evolving and earlier timing expectations, see stormy soaker before heat roars back Thursday.
Cooler Week Ahead
A cooler airmass settles in Sunday into early next week. Highs drop to around 51°F Sunday, with overnight lows slipping into the upper 30s Sunday night. Patchy frost is possible Sunday night, and a reinforcing cold front could send lows near or just below freezing Monday and Tuesday nights, so gardeners will want to cover tender plants and secure anything vulnerable outdoors. Keep an eye on local forecasts before evening activities and be prepared to pull plans inside if any lingering storms pop up.
