Cincinnati could start Saturday with overnight or Saturday-morning thunderstorms, with lower visibility if storms occur, before a sweltering afternoon. Temperatures are expected to climb to 94, with the heat index reaching as high as 104 before showers and thunderstorms become more likely later in the day.
Fog may linger before 9 a.m., followed by mostly sunny skies for a time as the heat builds.
Storm Chances Build Saturday Afternoon
Thunderstorm chances increase from early afternoon into the evening, with the best odds arriving after 2 p.m. and continuing into Saturday night. The National Weather Service says some storms could produce damaging winds and locally heavy rainfall, although the exact timing and location remain uncertain.
Showers and thunderstorms could continue into Saturday night, with skies ranging from clear to mostly cloudy overnight. Temperatures should fall to about 66 degrees, with a northeast wind near 7 mph.
Sunday Brings A Cooler Reset
Sunday looks dramatically calmer, with quieter and cooler conditions and highs in the low 80s. Northeast winds of 5 to 9 mph should make the day feel noticeably more comfortable after Saturday's heat and storm threat.
Labor Day also looks favorable for outdoor plans, with sunshine and a high in the low 80s. Monday night should be partly cloudy with a low around 66, giving Cincinnati a brief stretch of easy summer weather.
Heat Returns By Midweek
The cooler break will not last long. Tuesday is forecast to reach 91 under mostly sunny skies, followed by a high in the low 90s Wednesday. Mostly sunny skies are expected Wednesday, with calm winds becoming northwest. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a study found that 48 percent of cities showed an increased trend toward more extreme hot days, compared with 2 percent that saw a decrease.
Rain chances may increase in the middle of the week as a disturbance moves a cold front through the Great Lakes, with showers possible. No Friday forecast is provided.
Anyone heading outside Saturday should plan around the afternoon heat, drink plenty of water and keep an eye on changing skies. If thunder arrives, move indoors rather than trying to wait out a storm under a tent, tree or patio awning.
