Thursday will bring another nice summer day to east-central Ohio. With a dry atmosphere overhead, it should be virtually cloud-free. Temperatures will be a little warmer than yesterday with most places in the Valley getting to the mid 80s. The humidity will also stay low yet today with dew points in low to mid 50s this afternoon.
The area will remain dry tonight under clear skies. Temperatures should drop off to the mid 60s.
TRICKY FRIDAY FORECAST
Friday’s forecast presents some challenges. Low pressure with a couple of frontal systems will approach the Great Lakes initially lifting a warm front through east-central Ohio.
You’ll notice it becoming a bit more humid behind the front compared to today. Clouds associated with the front will help keep temperatures in check, though. Temperatures shouldn’t get much higher than the low 80s in our area.
Challenges with the forecast are with the timing of the low and when any rain gest underway. Model runs over the last 24 hours have slowed the eastward progression of the low. Although odds for rain or thunder will increase with the front Friday afternoon, I wouldn’t call it a wash out. A shower or storm would certainly be possible in any area during the afternoon and evening but coverage should be fairly spotty.
Another problem is thunderstorm activity in southwest Ohio. This activity will decay as it travels east. This will spread debris clouds into the region in the afternoon that may bring additional moisture.
With these factors in mind, it looks like a 50%/50% chance for a shower or storm just about any time in the afternoon tomorrow. The strongest thunderstorms will keep well west of our area where conditions are more favorable for severe weather.
Showers and thunderstorms will be more likely in the Valley Saturday and Sunday as the parent low slowly creeps southeastward through Ohio. Saturday looks to bring slightly broader coverage and better odds for showers and storms – depending on how slow this system moves.
By Sunday the low will be centered pretty much over central Ohio keeping the threat for periodic showers and storms.
Temperatures through the weekend will be cool for mid July – around 80 on Saturday and upper 70s to near 80 on Sunday. Dew points will be in the 70s, however, so it will feel pretty damp and muggy.
NEXT WEEK
Chances for showers and storms will continue into Monday as our low continues south towards the Gulf. Coverage will be least Monday but still, a spotty shower or storm will lurking through the day. Odds for rain will decrease Tuesday and Wednesday.
When all is said and done, we can expect a pretty decent slug of precipitation over the next seven days. That’s welcome news for our dry gardens, lawns and fields.
