The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh has issued a Flood Watch in effect for Tuscarawas, Carroll, Columbiana, Coshocton. Harrison, Jefferson, Muskingum, Guernsey, Belmont, Noble Counties until Sunday Evening.
You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop.
The freezing rain/sleet from earlier this morning ends by mid morning. A series of disturbances will move through east-central Ohio today pulling relatively warm air into the region this afternoon allowing temperatures in the mid/upper 40s in the Tuscarawas Valley this afternoon.
We should get a break in the steady rain through the afternoon and most of tonight. Clouds will stick around, though, and it will end up being a fairly dreary day across the Valley.
Rain will move back in to the region early Friday morning as the next upper level disturbance drags a warm front across east-central Ohio. This boundary will be the focus for more rain tomorrow. RAIN ON FRIDAY COULD BE MODERATE TO HEAVY AT TIMES especially during the mid morning and into the mid afternoon hours.
Temperatures on Friday will be warmer behind the warm front with most neighborhoods in the Valley reaching the low 60s for afternoon highs.
Our warm front will get shoved southeast as yet another upper level wave forces the boundary out of the area Friday evening bringing us another break in the rain overnight. However, like today, the dry spell will be brief and rain will return to the Valley early Saturday morning.
With all the rain expected over the next 72 hours and ground already saturated from recent rainfall, the concern for flooding is real. Computer modeling as well as forecasters at NWS all indicate the potential for up to 3 inches of additional rainfall through the weekend. And, flood watches and warnings have already been hoisted for a majority of east-central Ohio.
Folks who live along the Tuscarawas River or any of its streams/creeks as well as near and along Stillwater Creek – or ANY creek or stream for that matter – need to pay particular attention to water levels and hydrological forecasts through the weekend. If you live in a low-lying area that often floods, be prepared to take action.
There is some light at the end of the tunnel. A cold front is forecast to cross the region on Sunday. While it will bring yet another round of rain to the area, it will also usher in a colder AND DRIER air mass. The result will be a string of days – at least through Wednesday – of clearing skies and dry weather conditions.