Wilmington, Ohio – Showers and thunderstorms will develop Thursday afternoon as a warm front lifts north, bringing the threat of 60 mph wind gusts and isolated tornadoes along the I-75 and I-71 corridors through Thursday night.
According to the National Weather Service in Wilmington, storms are expected to form during the mid to late afternoon and track east across western and central Ohio into the evening. While uncertainty remains on how strong storms will become, forecasters say any cell that intensifies could produce damaging straight-line winds, small hail and a brief tornado.
The highest concern currently stretches from Cincinnati north through Dayton along I-75, then east toward Columbus and Chillicothe along I-71 and US-23. Travel during the evening commute could be impacted by sudden downpours, wind-driven rain and rapidly changing visibility.
Communities including Richmond, Indiana, and northern Kentucky are also within the broader severe weather outlook. Storms may remain scattered, but isolated severe warnings are possible if atmospheric instability increases.
Residents should review severe weather safety plans, secure outdoor objects and ensure they have multiple ways to receive warnings Thursday afternoon and evening. The threat is expected to decrease late Thursday night as storms move east, but additional updates are likely as confidence in timing and intensity improves.
