Columbus woke up to a crisp, almost winter-like chill this Sunday, with clear skies and temperatures near 34°F at John Glenn International. Low-lying spots around the metro dipped close enough to freezing for pockets of frost through mid-morning. A Frost Advisory is in effect until 9 a.m. EDT, which puts tender yard plants and early seedlings on the hot seat, or rather, the cold ground.
Morning Frost Advisory
The Frost Advisory continues through 9 a.m. EDT, with readings near freezing in river valleys and sheltered neighborhoods. According to NWS Wilmington, temperatures around 32°F are likely to produce frost that can damage unprotected vegetation. The guidance is simple: cover potted plants and hold off on putting anything new in the ground until later in the day.
Sunny Sunday, Gusty Afternoon
Once the frost risk eases, the day turns a lot friendlier. Sunshine should dominate and temperatures will climb into the low 60s. Southwest winds will ramp up to around 8 to 13 mph, with gusts into the low 20s during the afternoon. It is a solid window for outdoor plans after mid-morning, although it may feel a bit blustery on exposed ridges and bridges.
Midweek Rain And Thunder Risks
A frontal system moves in on Monday, May 4, bringing a chance of afternoon showers and isolated storms, especially between about 2 and 5 p.m. The pattern then turns decidedly wetter. The most active stretch looks to be Tuesday, May 5, into Wednesday, May 6, when showers and thunderstorms are most likely and localized rainfall totals of an inch or more are possible. Forecasters note that heavier pockets could cause brief runoff issues, so anyone with outdoor plans later in the week will want to keep checking updated forecasts.
Plan Ahead
For Sunday, the playbook is straightforward: bring sensitive plants and outdoor potted containers inside before dawn and wait to plant until temperatures rebound. Looking ahead, a rain jacket will come in handy for Tuesday and Wednesday, with damp commutes likely. We covered the broader spring chill in an earlier report on the backyard frost threat.
