Good evening folks!
Taking a look at surface observations across the contiguous US, surface high pressure is currently centered over the southeast aiding in the calm conditions we had for today. Conditions will change as a center of low pressure that currently sits over the Panhandle of Oklahoma will move into the region. Surface convergence out ahead of the system will cause rain showers to move into the Ohio River Valley during the overnight hours. Those possible rain showers will have to overcome and battle against some relatively dry air that is in place. Rainfall totals will be on the lighter side during the overnight hours.
Might need the umbrella as you head out for your Friday morning commute as the area of low pressure with a cold front extending to it’s south, inches closer to our area. The rain chances will taper off heading into the afternoon hours, with highs rebounding back into the upper 60s to low 70s.
The surface low that is now sitting over the Panhandle of Oklahoma will move out of the eastern Plains and will hover around and ride along a stationary boundary as we head into Friday night. Model guidance are in agreement with this disturbance moving into the Great Lakes region on Saturday. As the disturbance moves north, the stationary boundary that it was initially riding along will phase into a warm front and move north, allowing SW flow to kick in and pull in moisture from the Gulf. This will help juice up the atmosphere a little bit.
Later in the day on Saturday, a cold associated with the area of low pressure will push through the area. Widespread rain with embedded thunderstorms are possible during the day ahead of the cold front. The main threats will be heavy rain, some cloud to ground lightning, and some gusty winds.
The cold front will move through the area during Saturday evening and rain chances will diminish immediately after it passes. Temperatures behind the front will drop quite drastically as a strong Canadian surface high pressure settles in with cold and dry NW flow settling into the area. Temperatures Sunday morning will drop into the 30s, might need to wear a coat as you head out for Sunday morning church services.
Tonight: Isolated showers after 5am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 55. South wind 6 to 9 mph.
Friday: Scattered showers, mainly before 2pm. Cloudy, with a high near 68. Light south wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Friday Night: A small chance of showers, mainly after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. South wind 7 to 9 mph.
Saturday: A chance of showers, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 8am. High near 67. Southwest wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 49.