Ohio is firmly behind the cold front late Friday morning, and the rest of today will feel like November, according to the National Weather Service. Temperatures late in the morning were holding in the upper 40s and lower 50s across northern Ohio and in the mid-50s farther south, close to the highs many northern communities will see all day. West to northwest winds of 10 to 16 mph are making it feel chillier, clouds are giving way to partial sunshine in central and southern Ohio, and lake-effect showers are the main weather left in the northeast.
The only land advisory in effect in Ohio is in the southwest, where the National Weather Service in Wilmington has a Frost Advisory in place from midnight tonight through 9 a.m. Saturday for Cincinnati and much of southwest Ohio, including Hamilton, Clermont, Brown, Highland, Adams, Pike, Scioto and Ross counties. The weather service says temperatures falling into the low to mid-30s overnight will allow frost to develop, and sensitive outdoor plants could be damaged or killed if left uncovered. On Lake Erie, the National Weather Service in Cleveland issued a Small Craft Advisory on Friday morning, in effect for parts of the lake through Saturday morning and for other waters through early Monday, so boaters should expect rough conditions.
In northwest Ohio, the rest of Friday is the drier part of the state. Toledo turns partly sunny with a high near 49 degrees and northwest winds of 9 to 13 mph, according to the National Weather Service in Cleveland. Tonight turns mostly cloudy with a low near 36 degrees, and Saturday stays partly sunny and cool with a high near 52 degrees.
Northeast Ohio keeps the unsettled weather. Cleveland has a chance of rain showers through the rest of today with a high near 54 degrees, west winds around 16 mph, and a roughly 50 percent chance of rain, the National Weather Service in Cleveland said. Showers are likely tonight with a low near 41 degrees, and a chance of showers continues Saturday with a high near 53 degrees. Akron reaches near 54 degrees Friday with a chance of showers, while Youngstown reaches near 56 degrees with a roughly 50 percent chance of showers — and showers are likely there Saturday, when highs reach only near 52 degrees.
Central Ohio stays mostly dry but cool for the rest of today. Columbus is partly sunny with a high near 54 degrees and northwest winds around 12 mph, and Marion is partly sunny near 51 degrees with northwest winds around 14 mph, according to the National Weather Service. Tonight’s lows fall to near 38 degrees in Columbus and near 36 degrees around Marion, and Saturday stays mostly cloudy with highs in the lower 50s.
Southwest and southeast Ohio see the mildest readings for the rest of Friday. Cincinnati is partly sunny near 55 degrees before turning partly cloudy tonight with a low near 36 degrees — cold enough for the frost advisory overnight — and Dayton follows a similar path, partly sunny near 55 degrees with a low near 36 degrees tonight and patchy frost possible before a partly sunny Saturday near 54 degrees. In southeast Ohio, Athens is the warmest spot in the state Friday, partly sunny near 58 degrees, with a low near 35 degrees tonight, patchy fog possible, and a partly sunny Saturday near 53 degrees before lows fall near 32 degrees Saturday night.
Looking ahead, Saturday is the coolest day of the weekend, with highs in the lower to mid-50s statewide and lake-effect showers lingering in the northeast. High pressure then builds back in, and the National Weather Service expects a sunnier rebound: Sunday turns sunny after morning frost in many areas, with highs in the mid to upper 50s, Monday reaches near 60 degrees in central Ohio and the low 60s in Cincinnati, and Tuesday reaches the lower to mid-60s under sunny skies. For the rest of Friday, plan for wet roads at times in northeast Ohio, gusty crosswinds behind the front, and a cold night for high school playoff football — bundle up, and cover or bring in sensitive plants in southwest Ohio before the frost arrives tonight.