The area of showers and thunderstorms we’re expecting later today in the Valley has started to get its act together in Indiana. Thunderstorms will travel into western Ohio this afternoon and continue eastward through this evening.
The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a Tornado Watch that includes the bulk of western and central Ohio effective until 7:00 pm this evening. The Watch area includes Holmes and Wayne counties in our area.
Thunderstorm cells are forecast to intensify as they travel into central Ohio over the next couple of hours. I do expect the SPC to expand the watch area eastward into east-central Ohio counties later this afternoon.
As thunderstorms travel eastward through the afternoon they are expected to become a line as they move through central Ohio during the mid to late afternoon. The line of storms should arrive in eastern Ohio by 5 pm or so.
It will be a fast-mover and they won’t last long. However, these storms could produce strong wind gusts, large hail, and isolated tornadoes. Some cells could also bring brief heavy rainfall.
Be weather aware late this afternoon and this evening. Have a reliable way to receive any warnings.
