Weather Alert Day: Rounds of storms moving in, some potentially strong to severe

QUICK WEATHER FORECAST:

• Today: Rain & storms, high 71
• Tonight: Steady showers, storms, low 53
• Friday: AM storms & rain, high 59
• Saturday: Mainly sunny, high 58
• Sunday: Clouds later, high 51
• Monday: Snow showers, high 40

FORECAST DISCUSSION:

Good Thursday afternoon!

Chances for storms and showers have returned to Central Ohio. On top of that, some of the storms that we see have the potentially to turn stronger, even severe.

A low pressure center and cold front will sweep through Ohio before we head into the weekend. An organized line of storms is moving across Indiana and is expected to be in Central Ohio between 2 and 5 pm.

Another round of storms is possible later this evening, in the 7 to 11 pm time frame. Both rounds are expected to bring in stronger thunderstorms with higher amounts of lightning and stronger rainfall rates.

When it comes to our severe weather risks, all of Central Ohio is at a 1/5 level threat. Areas west of I-71, including Columbus, have been upgraded to a 2/5. Gusty to damaging winds remain the primary threat, but there is still the lower end threat of seeing large hail and an isolated, spin-up tornado.

Rain continues into tomorrow morning when the cold front finally exits our area. We will get clearer by the second half of the day and remain that way through the weekend. However, temperatures will fall from the more mild numbers and land in the lower 50s by Sunday.

There's a chance to see a few snow showers going into Monday given how much cooler it will be. Clear skies return for the middle of next week with temperatures rebounding back to the lower 50s by Wednesday.

-Joe