Ohio starts Thursday under Frost Advisories across parts of central, eastern and southeastern Ohio, with early fog reported around Toledo and Athens, before high pressure delivers a sunny, dry day statewide, according to the National Weather Service. The weather service offices in Cleveland, Wilmington, Pittsburgh and Charleston, West Virginia, all describe a tranquil and seasonable pattern, with no rain expected anywhere in Ohio today and dry weather expected to continue through at least early next week.
In Northwest Ohio, Toledo begins the day with fog and temperatures in the low 40s, then turns sunny with a high near 69 and light north winds. The Cleveland weather service office notes that low temperatures early Thursday are a few degrees chillier than recent mornings, leading to greater frost potential across northern Ohio, while any lake-enhanced sprinkles late Thursday into early Friday appear too light for a forecast mention of measurable rain.
Northeast Ohio turns sunny after a cold start, with Cleveland reaching about 64 degrees and inland areas such as Wooster reaching about 65, with light north winds. Farther south and east, the Pittsburgh weather service office has a Frost Advisory in effect until 9 a.m. for east central Ohio, including Tuscarawas, Carroll, Columbiana, Coshocton, Harrison, Jefferson, Muskingum, Guernsey, Belmont, Noble and Monroe counties, where temperatures as low as 34 degrees will result in frost formation.
Central and Southwest Ohio share the frost-to-sunshine pattern. The Wilmington weather service office has a Frost Advisory in effect until 10 a.m. for Fairfield, Hocking and Licking counties, with temperatures as low as 35 degrees. Columbus then turns sunny and reaches about 70 degrees with light north winds, and Cincinnati and the Wilmington area also turn sunny with highs near 70 and light northeast winds.
Southeast Ohio is under a Frost Advisory from the Charleston, West Virginia, weather service office until 9 a.m., covering Perry, Morgan, Athens, Washington, Vinton, Meigs and Jackson counties, among others, with temperatures as low as 34 degrees. Athens starts with fog and temperatures near 39 degrees, then turns sunny with a high near 68. The weather service warns that frost could harm sensitive outdoor vegetation, and that sensitive outdoor plants may be killed if left uncovered, so residents should take steps to protect tender plants from the cold.
Tonight will be clear across Ohio, with lows in the upper 30s in colder inland areas of the northeast, the low 40s in central Ohio, and the low to mid-40s farther south. The Cleveland office says Thursday night trends a few degrees milder, with lesser frost potential. Friday then stays sunny and dry statewide, with highs in the mid-60s in northern Ohio, near 65 in Toledo, and around 69 to 70 in central, southwest and southeast Ohio.
The extended outlook keeps Ohio dry through the weekend and into Monday. Saturday will be mostly clear, with highs in the mid-60s, after a Friday night and early Saturday period that forecasters say could feature more widespread frost potential. Sunday turns mostly clear with highs in the upper 60s, and Monday will be partly cloudy with highs in the upper 60s. Forecasters expect a front to cross Tuesday or Tuesday night, with the potential for a bit of rain late Tuesday into Wednesday — the first real break in an otherwise calm, dry stretch.