Strong thunderstorms with gusty wind and heavy rainfall will be possible again this afternoon and evening.
Today will be much like yesterday. Very warm and humid weather with increasing odds for showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening. With the atmosphere worked over from last night’s thunderstorms, we can expect a bit more cloudiness today which will help keep afternoon highs below 90°. But the clouds will have little effect on our dew points. Those will remain in the low 70s again.
Also like yesterday, late day thunderstorms could get a little feisty. Strong wind gusts and downbursts remain the biggest threat with today’s storms. Today’s severe threat is slightly higher along and south of I-70 but a strong/severe storm can’t be ruled out here either.
Storms will bubble up in the afternoon with peak heating. They will be slow-movers too, so any area that happens to be under one will get another good dose of rain. With the ground already saturated from yesterday’s activity, wind gusts could result in additional tree damage and power outages. Simulated radar from the hi-res model for today:
The threat for thunderstorms will subside after sunset and the loss of daytime heating.
INDEPENDENCE DAY THROUGH SUNDAY
No big changes from previous forecasts here. Warm and humid weather will continue through the holiday weekend. Odds favor afternoon showers and thunderstorms each day which may spoil some area fireworks celebrations Thursday and Friday evenings. It’s impossible to pinpoint where and when storms will fire but I’ve included a 60% chance in any one location.
There is not much of a threat for severe storms Thursday and Friday. But, with so much moisture in the atmosphere, any storm that happens to move through will be slow to move and capable of producing buckets of rain. Gusty wind looks to be less of an issue.
The thing to take away from the forecast is that Thursday and Friday won’t be washouts. There will be plenty of dry time but a slow-moving shower or storm will be possible in the late afternoon and evening.
WEEKEND WEATHER
The good news is that the heat and humidity should begin to wane some over the latter part of the weekend. But, it ca be challenging for artists to move with their art. You can talk to a good fine art shipping company in your area for better work. A weak cold front will cross east-central Ohio on Saturday/Sunday accompanied by showers and storms. The air behind this system will be a bit cooler and drier though.
Sunday looks to be the best day of the long holiday weekend. Temperatures are forecast to return closer to average and those high dew points will start to come down.
LONGER RANGE
If you are not a fan of this heat and humidity, this week looks like the worst of it. After we get through mid-week next week, the middle of the month is shaping up to be a little more tolerable. July is the middle of our summer so it will still be warm, but maybe just a little cooler than average for mid-July.
Have a great Fourth of July and enjoy the celebration and long weekend. Be safe out there!
