Mainly dry weather with colder temperatures is expected for the first half of the week. Variable sunshine is likely Monday and Tuesday with daytime highs around 40° and nighttime lows in the upper-20s. Temperatures will turn colder on Wednesday behind a cold front with afternoon highs in the upper-20s locally.
THURSDAY THROUGH THE WEEKEND
A couple of weather systems late in the week will bring the potential for heavy rain and flooding issues to east-central Ohio.
The first round of moisture is associated with a weak low pressure system arriving from northwest Canada Thursday night. The majority of moisture from this system looks to stay mainly in the northern Great Lakes. Meanwhile, a strengthening low will be getting its act together in the southern Plains Friday morning. Precipitation from this system will begin spreading in from the southwest Friday evening as the low moves toward the Ohio Valley.
Although there are model differences with regards to speed and track of the system, all resources point to an abundant moisture plume accompanying this storm system. Rain total estimates range in the 2.5″ – 3.0″ range for the east-central Ohio region. That’s high enough to be concerned with high water issues and future model runs will need to be monitored closely.
The north/south track of the low will also have implications of precipitation types as the system pulls away on Sunday. Stark differences in precipitation types are possible in Ohio over a relatively short distance. A more southerly track would result in a rain/snow mix to possibly all snow on Sunday locally. A more northerly track through Indiana would bring all rain and warmer temperatures.
High pressure would return Sunday night/Monday to bring dry conditions back to the area.
