Rain is taking over Ohio tonight, ending the mild Veterans Day statewide and setting up a colder, gustier Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. The National Weather Service in Cleveland, in its 6:17 p.m. zone forecast, put the chance of rain near 100 percent in parts of the northwest, while the National Weather Service in Wilmington put rain chances at 80 to 90 percent across central and southern Ohio. No watches, warnings or advisories were in effect for Ohio early Wednesday evening.
In northwest Ohio, Toledo can expect rain likely, mainly this evening, with lows in the lower 40s and north winds of 5 to 10 mph gusting up to 20 mph, the National Weather Service in Cleveland said. Rain is also expected tonight around Bowling Green, Findlay, Fremont and Port Clinton, with lows in the lower 40s. In northeast Ohio, Cleveland, Akron-Canton and Youngstown all head into a rainy night, with lows in the mid-40s around Cleveland and Akron before colder air arrives Thursday.
Central Ohio turns wet tonight as well. Columbus has a 90 percent chance of rain, with lows in the mid-40s and south winds becoming northwest at 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph after midnight, according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington. Marion and Crawford County can expect rain tonight with lows in the lower 40s and north winds picking up to 10 to 15 mph, gusting to 25 mph after midnight.
Southwest and southeast Ohio share the same wet night. Cincinnati and Dayton can expect rain this evening and overnight, with lows in the mid-40s — around 44 degrees in Cincinnati and 43 in Dayton. Athens, Jackson, Marietta and Portsmouth also see rain tonight, with lows in the mid to upper 40s, before showers continue into Thursday. Anyone traveling late tonight should expect wet pavement in every region.
Thursday is the colder day behind the front. Highs reach only the mid-40s across northern Ohio, including Toledo, Findlay and Cleveland, and the upper 40s to low 50s farther south, with Columbus near 50, Dayton near 51 and Cincinnati near 52, the National Weather Service said. Rain remains likely Thursday afternoon in the north, at chances of 70 percent or higher in many northern counties, while showers continue elsewhere. North winds of 10 to 15 mph will gust as high as 30 mph, making it feel colder still.
Thursday night turns colder still, with lows in the lower 30s in the north and the mid-30s in central and southern Ohio. Friday stays chilly, with highs in the lower 40s and a chance of rain mixing with snow in parts of northern and east-central Ohio — including Sandusky, Mansfield and Akron — with little or no snow accumulation expected. Friday night lows fall into the upper 20s, cold enough for a hard freeze in spots.
The weekend then trends drier. The National Weather Service expects mostly sunny skies Saturday with highs in the mid-40s, partly cloudy conditions Sunday in the upper 40s, and a slow warm-up toward the lower 50s by Wednesday. For tonight and Thursday: keep the rain gear out, slow down on wet roads, secure loose outdoor items against the gusts, and trade the light jackets of Veterans Day for real coats.
Photo: Art Anderson, CC BY