Columbus woke up today to partly cloudy skies, mid 60s, and the kind of sticky humidity that tells you storms are not far behind. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to pop up this afternoon, most likely between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., and a few could bring brief heavy downpours and gusty winds that catch drivers off guard. The unsettled pattern is expected to hang on tomorrow night, when bands of heavier rain could lead to localised street flooding in low spots.
Storms This Afternoon, Heavier Rain Friday Night
Forecasters say scattered showers and thunderstorms are most likely this afternoon, with coverage peaking in the 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. window and roughly a 60% chance of precipitation during that stretch. Many of the daytime storms should be short-lived, but some cells could still pack strong wind gusts and heavy rain that quickly cut visibility and slow traffic. The bigger concern arrives tomorrow evening into Saturday morning, when rainfall amounts near three-quarters of an inch to one inch are possible in the heaviest bands. Southwest winds will increase to around 10 to 12 mph this afternoon, then shift to the northwest overnight as the front moves through, according to the National Weather Service.
Weekend Outlook And Early Next Week Heat
Showers and thunderstorms remain in the mix on Saturday, with highs in the low 80s, before a noticeably drier and sunnier Sunday takes over with highs near 87. Forecasters are tracking a strong ridge expected to build in early next week that will shove temperatures into the lower to mid 90s by Monday and Tuesday, with muggy overnight lows stuck in the 70s. This continues the pattern we reported on earlier, see our June 22 coverage for background on the multi-day storm threat.
How To Prepare
If you are running afternoon errands or heading into the evening commute, plan on giving yourself extra time and be ready for sudden downpours that can quickly make roads slick. Avoid driving through standing water, secure loose outdoor furniture before storms arrive, and keep an eye on updated forecasts if you have outdoor plans this evening and tomorrow night. If storms turn severe, head indoors, stay away from windows, and follow instructions from local authorities.
