High pressure over Quebec will extend south into the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley today. However, plenty of moisture remains at the surface and low levels to keep a deck of stratus overhead. This morning’s satellite loop shows some breaking of the deck as drier air tries to mix down to the surface. Expect occasional peaks of sun across east-central Ohio this afternoon, but more clouds than sun will be likely.
Temperatures will be a bit warmer than yesterday with afternoon highs in the mid 70s.
Thursday will bring much of the same as high pressure migrates west. Chances for some sunshine occur mostly during the morning. A couple of disturbances will track across the region during the afternoon and evening that will bring back slight odds for a light shower in spots. Any showers should be widely scattered and light.
Hights Thursday should top out in the upper 70s.
FRIDAY AND THE WEEKEND
Strong high pressure over Michigan will bring us a dry day on Friday and most likely, the nicest day of the work week. With drier air in place, mostly sunny conditions will rule the day. Warmer air will wrap into the region as well and afternoon temperatures will reach the 80-degree mark in most neighborhoods.
Large and extremely powerful Hurrican Florence is forecast to make landfall along the Carolina Coast early Friday. The forecast track of Florence after landfall remains highly uncertain at this point. Very weak steering flow will be present and the storm is expected to stall over the Carolinas after landfall.
Rainfall from Florence in the Carolinas will be devastating and flooding from tropical rain and storm surge will be widespread.
The models are just now beginning to get a better handle on how Florence will behave after Friday’s landfall. The most agreeable solution is that Florence will drift southward into South Carolina then head inland into Georgia and Alabama.
Meanwhile, a frontal system is due to approach the Great Lakes region This boundary may arrive just at the right time to block moisture from Florence and keep it south temporarily. Model consistency wavers from run to run, so confidence in this part of the forecast is still iffy. IF this track turns out to be the correct solution, our weekend here in east-central Ohio will be warm and dry.
NEXT WEEK
Current modeling indicates that Florence will eventually take a northward turn to the north early next week. Remnants from this once powerful storm will spread moisture into the Great Lakes region and quite possibly east-central Ohio. Showers and storms will likely accompany the system Monday and Tuesday as moisture spreads northward.
IMPORTANT: This is a week out and specific details are just not possible that far out. Will we get rain from Florence? Probably. Will we get a LOT of rain? Probably not. And, likely not as much rain as we got last weekend. Sure, things can change, but at this time, large impacts to our area are not likely.
