As discussed in yesterday’s update, the majority of thunderstorms with a cold front developed and moved through western and northern portions of Ohio. Instability and upper-level shear were also highest in those areas. Since the storms arrived here much later in the day they lost most of their punch.
We did manage to squeeze out a few raindrops across the Valley late last night – a couple of hundredths at best.
The cold front has pushed south and east of the region this morning. There will be some cloudiness around from leftover moisture hanging around but we should remain dry today. Temperatures this afternoon will be cooler than earlier in the week with highs around 80 degrees in most neighborhoods.
Cooler and drier air will flow in behind the front today and we will have a much less humid day. Those low dew points will remain with us through the weekend.
WEEKEND FORECAST
It looks like a nice weekend to do anything outside in the Valley – We have the Corn Festival in Strasburg or the Harvest Festival in Zoar going on this weekend. This is mid summer and normally we deal with hot and humid weather – what some folks call the dog days of summer (which has nothing to do with weather, by the way). High pressure will keep mostly sunny skies on Saturday and daytime temperatures will be pleasantly cool with afternoon highs in the upper 70s. That humid airmass from earlier in the week will be long gone.
Sunday’s temperatures will creep up to around 80 in most places and we’ll keep the sunshine and low dew points going.
NEXT WEEK
Next week looks very similar to this week. An upper-level trough of low pressure sets up for the eastern half of the country and surface low pressure sets up over the Plains. Gulf moisture will creep back in by Monday which will bring back muggy conditions. Disturbances riding along the upper-level trough will return the threat for scattered showers and thunderstorms Monday through Wednesday. The best odds for more widespread rain comes on Tuesday.
Total rainfall so far for the month is running just over 1.5 inches below normal. I keep seeing the promise of rain from various sources, but it just doesn’t seem to pan out for us here in the Valley. Again, the NWSWPC projects rain over the next 7 days – most likely early next week.
Drier air will try to move back into the region Thursday.
