Early this morning, July 19, Columbus woke up to patchy fog and a thin veil of wildfire smoke, leaving the air hazy and cutting morning visibility to around 4 miles. Temperatures hovered in the upper 60s to near 70°F, and short-term guidance still points to skies clearing to mostly sunny by this afternoon, with a high near 84°F.
Afternoon Sunshine, Light North Winds
Through the afternoon, expect mostly sunny skies with a light north breeze around 5–8 mph and highs near 84°F. It will feel a bit cooler than earlier in the week, and while humidity will ease somewhat, conditions stay solidly summery for any outdoor plans.
Smoke And Air Quality
Areas of smoke may linger at times today into tomorrow, and an Air Quality Alert remains in effect for parts of central Ohio through midnight tomorrow night. Sensitive groups should avoid long periods of exertion outdoors.
The National Weather Service in Wilmington notes that northerly flow behind a recent cold front is advecting wildfire smoke into the region and advises people with lung or heart conditions to limit time outside. For full details, check the National Weather Service Wilmington.
Tuesday Storm Window
On Tuesday, July 21, a cold front is expected to sweep through and bring a widespread round of showers and thunderstorms, with a high near 87°F. Forecasters are calling for about a 90% chance of rain, with southwest winds of 5–15 mph and gusts up to 26 mph.
Rainfall totals could reach 1–2 inches in spots, and a few storms may be on the strong to severe side. Plan for a wet commute on Tuesday and secure any loose outdoor items ahead of the front.
What To Do Today
To play it safe with the smoke, try to keep children, older adults, and people with respiratory or heart conditions indoors when possible. If you need to be outside for longer stretches, a well-fitting N95 mask can help.
For events, practices, or outdoor work, consider moving activities indoors or delaying them until air quality improves. Running HVAC systems on a recirculate setting can help keep smoky air from circulating inside.
More
We tracked the smoke’s arrival earlier this weekend, for background, see our earlier report, Columbus Chokes On Canadian Smoke. We will update this post if advisories, watches, or alerts change.
