Columbus, OH – Gardeners across Central Ohio need to finish covering sensitive outdoor plants immediately as a Frost Advisory remains in effect until 10 a.m. Tuesday. While the afternoon promises a significant warm-up with a high near 75 degrees, morning temperatures as low as 35 are supportive of frost formation that can kill uncovered vegetation. The chilly start is a brief hurdle before a much more active and warmer weather pattern takes hold of the region.
According to the National Weather Service in Wilmington, the advisory covers a wide area including Downtown Columbus, Marysville, and Lancaster. Forecasters warn that while today stays mostly sunny, conditions shift overnight as clouds thicken and a 60 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms develops after 2 a.m. Wednesday. This rain could lead to slick spots on I-71 and the 270 Outerbelt just in time for the Wednesday morning rush hour.
The midweek moisture is accompanied by a surge in temperatures that will make the morning frost a distant memory. Thursday is shaping up to be a standout day with full sunshine and a high reaching 80 degrees. This drastic swing from morning frost to near-summer heat is driven by a shift to southwesterly winds, which could gust as high as 29 mph today, helping to usher in the warmer air mass.
Rain chances linger into Wednesday afternoon before a dry Thursday provides a brief break. More widespread showers and thunderstorms are expected to return by Friday night and persist into the weekend. For now, the focus is on protecting landscaping through the 10 a.m. expiration and preparing for a potentially wet and stormy commute on Wednesday morning.
Five Day Forecast for Columbus, OH
- Tuesday: Patchy Frost then Mostly Sunny, High 75
- Wednesday: Chance Showers and Thunderstorms, High 74
- Thursday: Sunny, High 80
- Friday: Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers, High 82
- Saturday: Showers Likely, High 72
