Columbus is waking up to a thick, soupy start today, with mostly cloudy skies and muggy air hanging over the city. Official readings near John Glenn Columbus International show temperatures around 72°F and dew points close to 70°F, which means it feels every bit as sticky as it sounds.
Expect a warm afternoon with a high near 87°F and light northerly breezes. Isolated thunderstorms are possible, especially south and east of I-71 and into northern Kentucky. If you have afternoon plans, keep a quick backup in mind. Any storm that pops up could bring brief heavy downpours and frequent lightning. Overnight lows should settle into the upper 60s.
Afternoon And Tuesday Night
Through this afternoon, skies should turn partly sunny, with north winds around 3–8 mph and only a low chance of showers. Isolated storms are expected to stay limited in coverage, but any one storm could still drop a quick burst of heavy rain and produce frequent lightning. The National Weather Service advises keeping an eye on the sky and moving activities indoors if thunder approaches.
Tonight will stay on the muggy side, with lows near 68–70°F and only small chances for a stray shower overnight.
End-Of-Week Flood Threat
The calm will not last forever. A larger system heads toward the region late in the week, with rain chances on the rise Thursday and ramping up further on Friday. Forecast guidance points to a very moist air mass and the potential for repeated downpours, which could trigger localized flooding. The highest odds currently focus near, and south of I-70, but timing and intensity could still shift as the system takes shape.
If you are trying to lock in weekend plans, keep them flexible and stay tuned for updated forecasts.
Heat Resources And How To Cope
Temperatures are expected to stay in the upper 80s through tomorrow, so plan for hot afternoons and sticky evenings. Columbus has opened cooling centers and extended recreation hours to help residents handle the heat, check locations and schedules on the City of Columbus site.
For outdoor events, aim for shaded spots, drink plenty of water, and think twice about being on the road during any heavy downpours.
Bottom line: today will be warm and mostly dry with isolated storms possible. The bigger concern for heavier rain and localized flooding arrives later this week. Keep weather alerts on your phone and have quick backup plans ready for any outdoor gatherings on Friday and Saturday.
