As of 5:35 a.m. EDT on Saturday, May 16, 2026, skies are clear and temperatures sit near 55°F at John Glenn Columbus International Airport (KCMH), with southeast winds running about 15 to 17 mph. That calm start will not last long. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to fire up through the morning, with the most active period roughly between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. A few storms could turn strong to severe, bringing hail and pockets of locally damaging winds, and gusts up to about 25 mph are likely inside the beefier cells.
Afternoon Storms And Commute Impacts
A first, more elevated batch of showers is possible between about 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., followed by a broader swath of showers and thunderstorms from late morning into mid afternoon. Some of those storms could dump a quick quarter to a half inch of rain in spots, and south to southwest winds will increase with gusts near 25 mph. Plan on slick roads, lower visibility at times, and a slower drive if you are out and about, and think about shifting outdoor plans inside for the afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.
Saturday Night Through Early Week
Showers and a few thunderstorms may linger into Saturday night before a warm front lifts north and drier air works in on Monday. Highs jump to around 86°F on Sunday, May 17, 2026, then push near 90°F on Monday, May 18, 2026, and into the lower 90s on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, ahead of a cold front that should bring some midweek relief. For more on the broader warm up previewed earlier, see our May 14 piece From Sweatshirts To Sweat. No watches or warnings are in effect at the moment, so keep an eye on updates in case that changes.
What To Do
If you have outdoor plans this afternoon, line up an indoor backup spot and keep weather alerts enabled on your phone. Looking ahead to next week’s hotter stretch, try to schedule strenuous outdoor activities for the morning or evening, stay hydrated, and monitor forecasts for any heat related guidance. Be ready for conditions to change quickly, and head inside to a sturdy shelter if severe thunderstorm warnings are issued.
