Periodic rain chances expected this week, with well above normal temperature and potential for heavier rain amounts during the latter part of the workweek.
Scattered light rain showers will be possible this evening and tonight with a weak disturbance. An accompanying weak cold front will lag off to the west and with this less-than-ideal alignment, I wouldn’t expect much more than light coverage locally. The weak frontal boundary will cross the east-central Ohio region on Tuesday but dry air intruding from the west and weakening upper-level support will keep rain chances locally light and spotty.
We can expect a dry period locally as high pressure crosses our region Tuesday evening through Wednesday. As that center of high pressure shifts east, warm southerly air will push temperatures to near 60° late Wednesday. A low pressure system will move northeast quickly from the central Plains into the central Great Lakes through this period. A warm front extending east from the low will lift north of the area on Thursday.
A stream of Gulf moisture will flow north into the region that can result in extended periods of steady rainfall as well as periods of heavy rain. Current model guidance suggests we could see a total of 1.50-inches to 2.50-inches of rain during the period Wednesday night through Saturday morning.
In addition to the potential for heavy rain, non-severe thunderstorms will be possible Thursday night and Friday as a sharp cold front approaches and moves across east-central Ohio.
Temperatures on Friday could very well reach 70° in the Valley with a strong influx of warm air before dropping off sharply Friday night behind the cold front.
I will continue to monitor as this system develops – mainly for the flood potential. Updates here daily.
