After looking over the small changes in the forecast today, I thought I would take a few minutes to catch you up with the latest on tonight’s severe weather potential.
We’re still on track to be on the receiving end of some thunderstorms overnight – some of which may bring damaging wind and heavy rainfall. At 8:00 PM this evening, the current radar shows a cluster of thunderstorms in central Indiana moving east. These are expected to reach or be in close proximity to the Ohio border by sunset/9:00 PM. These storms are currently producing high wind gusts and heavy rainfall in Indiana.
A pre-frontal rain shield out ahead of the storms will work to keep winds from getting out of hand ahead of the main batch of storms. The storms will weaken some as they make their way into central Ohio later tonight and should arrive here around 2:00 AM.
The NWS Storm Prediction Center continues to paint our area in a Level 2 risk for severe thunderstorms, with the primary threat coming from high wind gusts. They have reduced the risks of hail and tornadoes. In addition to the high wind gusts, some areas could also see localized flooding from heavy rain.
The storm system will push a cold front through the region early Thursday morning. We can expect to see conditions dry out from west to east behind the front.
Even as the chances of rain and storms decrease, it will remain quite windy on Thursday. Gusts in the 30 to 40 mph range are likely. Gusts to 45 mph can’t be ruled out on Thursday afternoon and early evening. Those gusty winds should decrease around/after sunset.
Decreasing clouds will continue through the rest of the day, with skies becoming mostly sunny Thursday afternoon-ish as high pressure builds into the region. Fair weather will likely hold on Friday and Saturday. Rain returns on Father’s Day as the next low pressure system moves into the region.
