The 614cast
Today’s tl;dr
🌧️ Periods of rain, high near 70.
Forecast highlights
🦆 Good day to be a duck
I will not tell you to “take the rain gear” or “have the rain gear handy” because what even is “rain gear”? If it’s an umbrella and/or jacket, don’t people just call them umbrellas and/or jackets and not “rain gear”? I feel like it’s something only my fellow meteorologists say.
I digress.
An umbrella and/or jacket will be wise to have today, though. Rain chances are high at any given time today, although we could see a lull in activity around midday and early afternoon.
Chances pick up again as the cold front itself approaches in the evening. You can see how things look on this forecast radar map from one of the main high-resolution computer models:
As far as amounts go, it looks like at least a half-inch is a pretty good bet. The National Blend of Models has about a 90% chance of getting at least that much. NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center forecast has similar odds, and a two-in-three chance of getting at least an inch (that might be a stretch goal, but we’ll see). They also have a 100% chance of getting at least a quarter-inch, so I feel good that this rain event won’t be a bust.
⏬ Crispy temperatures
Clouds and showers today will hold us to the lower 70s at most. But even with sunshine returning for Wednesday and Thursday, highs will be the coolest they’ve been since the end of May.
Highs in the 60s will feel quite cool — especially with an occasional breeze on Wednesday — but these numbers are just about normal.
Columbus proper should fall to around 40 degrees Thursday and Friday morning, but outlying areas drop into 30s. If somewhere dips to around 35 or 36, some patchy frost is possible… but I don’t expect that to happen near or within the Outerbelt.
📊 Today’s almanac
Normal low/high: 48 / 69
Record low/high: 29 (1952) / 91 (2007)
Sunrise/set: 7:34 a.m. / 7:04 p.m.
💦 Stormwater Awareness Week
Today is the last day of Ohio Stormwater Awareness Week, which officially runs from October 1–7.
According to the effort,
It’s a time to raise awareness about how stormwater pollution affects our land, water, and farms, and to highlight the steps we can take to prevent it. Clean stormwater helps protect our streams, drinking water, and the health of Ohio’s agricultural and natural resources.
While the week is meant to raise awareness of the importance of addressing stormwater issues, it’s relevant year-round.
We can all help keep our waterways clean and healthy:
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Keep storm drains clear of debris such as leaves and litter.
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Plant native plants and trees.
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Install a rain barrel or rain garden.
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Pick up and throw away dog poop.
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Mulch leaves to return those nutrients into the ground so that you can reduce fertilizer use.
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Limit your use of salt to melt snow and ice; a little goes a long way.
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Properly dispose of hazardous waste.
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Organize or volunteer at a stream or roadside cleanup.
Check out the Franklin County Soil and Water Conservation District’s community outreach programs.
🌭 For the weather weenies
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North Dakota tornado upgraded to EF-5, the first in 12 years (DAMWeather)
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Map and photos of Enderlin, ND EF-5 tornado damage (Grand Forks National Weather Service)
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Why do European windstorms like Storm Amy get different names and what is the criteria? (The Weather Channel)