Cincinnati, OH – A new active weather pattern is expected to bring widespread rain to the Ohio Valley beginning late Monday night and continuing through Saturday, according to the National Weather Service Ohio River Forecast Center (OHRFC).
According to the NWS, most of the region will receive 0.50 to 3.00 inches of rainfall, with the highest totals forecast along the Illinois–Indiana–Kentucky border, including southern Illinois, southern Indiana, and western and central Kentucky. Rainfall amounts over the next 48 hours remain lighter—generally 0.50 inches or less—as lake-effect showers linger along eastern Lake Erie Sunday into Sunday night. The more significant rainfall arrives with the midweek storm pattern.
Forecast maps released Sunday morning show a broad swath of moderate to heavy precipitation through the Ohio Valley, with deeper blues and purples on the 7-day outlook indicating the potential for 2 to 3 inches in portions of the tri-state border region. Areas farther north and east—including Ohio, West Virginia, and western Pennsylvania—are expected to see lower totals but still widespread precipitation.
The upcoming pattern will include multiple waves of moisture, bringing repeated rounds of rain from Tuesday through Saturday. Forecasters say this could lead to ponding on roads, reduced visibility for drivers, and rising water in low-lying areas, though major flooding is not currently anticipated.
The OHRFC urges residents to monitor updated rainfall projections as the system evolves, particularly in southern Illinois, southern Indiana, and northern Kentucky, where the heaviest precipitation is expected to fall.
