Mostly cloudy and mild this morning, Cincinnati woke up around 63°F at Lunken Field with a south breeze. Scattered showers are possible early, but the main round of showers and thunderstorms is expected later today and could make the evening commute slow and very wet.
Afternoon Into Tonight
This afternoon, a cold front will move through, bringing an 80% chance of showers and thunderstorms with a high near 75°F and southwest winds around 12 mph, gusting as high as 23 mph. Showers will become more numerous this evening and continue overnight into early Wednesday, with new rainfall amounts generally between three quarters and one inch and isolated spots possibly seeing up to two inches. The National Weather Service in Wilmington notes the heaviest rain is likely from late afternoon into the overnight hours; while widespread flooding is not expected, localized ponding and slow spots are likely. Temperatures should fall into the upper 60s by late afternoon and into the upper 40s early Wednesday morning.
Commute And Outdoor Plans
Local forecasters and outlets have already flagged the setup, and FOX19 has called a First Alert Weather Day, so expect slower traffic and pockets of heavy downpours during the evening rush. Avoid driving through standing water, give yourself extra travel time, and consider moving evening outdoor plans indoors. Transit riders should allow for delays as heavy rain and gusty winds push through the region.
Looking Ahead
Wednesday will be noticeably cooler with a high near 61°F and only a chance of spotty showers, then skies should clear more on Thursday with a high near 63°F. Temperatures moderate over the weekend but another front could bring a return of storms by Sunday, so keep an eye on updates from the National Weather Service.
For background on the pattern and tips on protecting plants and yard items, see our earlier report on a steamy Cincinnati morning. Updates will be posted if watches or warnings are issued; check forecasts before heading out tonight.
