Tuesday is sunny, with a high near 77, making for a calm opening to a warmer stretch, according to the National Weather Service forecast for Columbus.
Warm-Up Peaks Thursday
Wednesday is expected to be mostly sunny, with a high around 80, then temperatures reach the mid-80s Thursday. Thursday is expected to be the warmest day of the week, with a high near 86 and mostly sunny conditions.
Winds stay calm or light through Wednesday, then turn southwest Thursday at 6 to 10 mph, with gusts up to 20 mph, according to the National Weather Service forecast.
Rain Returns Friday
Showers are likely Friday, mainly after 2 p.m., with a 70% chance of precipitation, the National Weather Service forecast for Columbus says.
Rain chances continue over the weekend, according to the National Weather Service forecast.
Ohio’s Heavy-Rain Trend
As broader context—not a sign that this weekend’s forecast calls for flooding—NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information’s Ohio State Climate Summary 2022 reports that Ohio has experienced a significant increase in heavy-rain events. The cited finding is qualitative; it does not specify a time period or measurement in the information summarized here.
Ohio’s history also shows why heavy-rain trends matter beyond a single forecast. In March 1997, 6 to 12 inches of rain fell in parts of southern Ohio over three days, flooding communities along Brush Creek and the Scioto and Great Miami rivers; 17 counties were declared federal disaster areas, and more than 5,000 homes were damaged or destroyed. That episode is historical context, not an indication of expected flooding in Columbus this weekend. NOAA’s account of the 1997 flood places the event among the state’s most damaging recent floods.
The climate summary describes a significant increase in Ohio heavy-rain events, a long-term trend that is separate from this weekend’s forecast.
No Advisories In Effect
No watches, warnings or advisories are in effect for the Columbus area, the National Weather Service Wilmington office said Tuesday afternoon. The morning commute concern of patchy fog has passed; at 10:51 a.m., conditions at John Glenn Columbus International Airport were mostly cloudy, with 10-mile visibility.
