Heaviest rainfall arrives Saturday bringing highest potential for flooding

Rain continues today, mostly before mid afternoon. While most of the morning rain will be light to moderate, pockets of heavier rainfall will travel along a warm front as it lifts through east-central Ohio around mid day. A bit of instability is showing up along the boundary so a rumble or two of thunder wouldn’t be unusual. No strong storms are expected but rain could be heavier where thunder occurs.

We’ll chalk up another half to one inch of rain before this all shifts east late this afternoon. Thereafter, showers should become more scattered this evening and tonight.

It will be warmer this afternoon than yesterday with most Ohio Valley neighborhoods reaching the low 60s.

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY – HEAVIEST RAINFALL & HIGHEST POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING Much like last night, we will get another brief break in the steady rain overnight tonight into early Saturday morning. A weak boundary just to our south will be the focus for renewed rain activity during the daylight hours on Saturday. This looks to bring another half to one inch of rain to the Ohio Valley during the afternoon.

Unfortunately for east-central Ohio, deepening low pressure in the Midwest will track across the Upper Ohio Valley bringing with it even more moisture. This will mean pretty much steady moderate to heavy rainfall Saturday night into Sunday morning. With the ground already saturated and unable to absorb more water, low lying areas, creeks and streams, and eventually larger waterways will swell with runoff. Flooding will be more likely through this period.

Rainfall totals from this morning’s model runs indicate 2″ to 3″ inches of rain – with locally higher amounts – will be possible Saturday night through Sunday morning.

While water levels along the Ohio River will rise, I am more concerned for the potential of serious flooding. The last three runs of hydrological forecast model runs have been consistent in bringing water levels into flood stage at Steubenville. This morning’s run continues with this trend.