Columbus, OH – Northern Ohio will experience a windy Saturday as a strengthening low-pressure system sweeps across the Great Lakes, bringing widespread gusts and the potential for even stronger winds near thunderstorms. Conditions will remain unsettled through tonight before gradually easing into Sunday.
According to the US National Weather Service Cleveland, southwest to west winds will ramp up this afternoon, with gusts of 30 to 40 mph expected across much of northern and central Ohio. Areas along and south of Interstate 80, including Cleveland, Akron, Mansfield, and Sandusky, may see the strongest winds.
Forecasters note that isolated thunderstorms could develop late this afternoon and into the evening, particularly across Northeast Ohio and Northwest Pennsylvania. Any thunderstorm that forms may briefly enhance wind gusts beyond 40 mph, creating hazardous conditions for high-profile vehicles and unsecured outdoor items.
Wind gusts will remain elevated through tonight before gradually diminishing early Sunday. Temperatures will be seasonably cool as the system exits the region.
Communities along the Lake Erie shoreline and in the higher terrain of northeastern Ohio—such as Mentor, Ashtabula, Ravenna, and Youngstown—should be prepared for shifting wind directions and fluctuating gusts as the low tracks eastward.
Travelers are advised to use caution on north–south roads, especially during the strongest gust periods between late afternoon and early evening. Scattered rain showers may accompany the winds, though widespread heavy precipitation is not expected.
