Cleveland woke up to light rain and patchy smoke today, July 21, with muggy air and temperatures in the mid 70s hanging over the city. Mostly cloudy skies are expected, and showers will arrive in waves through the day, with a line of storms threatening to make the late morning commute a soggy mess. Lakefront plans should be treated with caution, as rough water and strong currents are likely along the shore.
What To Expect
A line of showers and thunderstorms is expected to push east across Cleveland late this morning into early afternoon, with the most likely severe window between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. along and east of the I-71 corridor. Damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph are possible in the stronger storms, and forecasters note a small chance for a few rotating storms later this afternoon into the evening. Heavy downpours could drop roughly a half inch to three-quarters of an inch of rain in spots.
A Beach Hazards Statement runs from 8 a.m. today through tomorrow evening for Cuyahoga and nearby lakeshore counties. The National Weather Service is blunt about the lakefront, cautioning, “Remain out of the water to avoid hazardous swimming conditions,” according to the National Weather Service Cleveland.
Lakefront And Boaters
Lake Erie will be choppy through tomorrow, with longshore currents and breaking waves creating a high risk for rip currents at popular spots such as Edgewater. Boaters and paddlers are urged to stay off the water while conditions are rough, as small craft operators can expect gusty winds and elevated waves. For more on the park and beach location, see Cleveland Metroparks at Edgewater Beach.
Commute And Safety
The strongest storms could quickly reduce visibility and topple tree limbs, so drivers should slow down, allow extra travel time, and avoid flooded streets. Secure outdoor furniture, bring pets inside, and if thunder is overhead, move to a sturdy building and avoid open areas until the storm passes. Keep an eye on local alerts and hold off on lakefront plans until conditions improve tomorrow and Thursday.
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