Frosty start Thursday before a major warm-up for the Columbus area

Tonight, skies will slowly thin out, with winds becoming lighter, and temps falling into the lower 30s to upper 20s.

FROST ADVISORIES & FREEZE WARNINGS in effect overnight:

QUICK WEATHER FORECAST:

• Tonight: Partly cloudy, low 33
• Thursday: Frosty start, mostly sunny, high 61
• Friday: Clouds increase, chance showers late, high 73
• Saturday: Few t-showers early, breezy & warm, high 76
• Sunday: Mixed clouds, breezy, very warm, high 83

FORECAST DISCUSSION:

Good Wednesday Evening,

It has been a very cool and gray day today behind the cold front from the overnight hours, with temps slowly falling back into the upper 40s to near 50. This is on a day where the normal high should be in the upper 60s. Tonight, skies will slowly thin out, with winds becoming lighter, and temps falling into the lower 30s to upper 20s.

Thursday will start off frosty, but with skies turning mostly sunny, we will enjoy a nice turnaround, with temps surging into the lower 60s for highs. Expect another crisp, but not as cold night Thursday night, with lows near 40.

We will see a nice boost in temps thanks to a wind shift to the south/southwest as a warm front will lift north to close the work week and start the weekend. This will lead us to temps into the lower 70s on Friday with increasing clouds and a chance of showers by late Friday. Temps will stay near 60 Friday night, and will climb to the mid to upper 70s on Saturday.

Saturday will start off with a chance of showers, especially in the first half of the day, and it will be breezy to gusty at times, but warm. Saturday night we will stay in the lower 60s, and set the stage for an even warmer day on Sunday as highs will push up into the lower 80s with a mix of clouds and sunshine.

We will stay mild to start next work week with highs in the lower 80s on Monday and breezy ahead of a cold front. This will bring showers toward evening, and better chances overnight and into Tuesday. Tuesday will be cooler, but above normal, as the weak front moves through and brings a chance of thundershowers. Behind the front, we will resume our warm pattern, with clearing skies for Wednesday and highs back into the middle to upper 70s.

-Dave