Cleveland, Ohio – Northern Ohio will see its hottest day of the week Wednesday, with temperatures soaring into the upper 80s and some areas, like Mansfield and Findlay, nearing 90°F. But the summer-like warmth comes with a warning: storms are expected to develop west of Interstate 71 by late afternoon.
According to the National Weather Service in Cleveland, isolated thunderstorms will begin forming after 4 p.m., bringing the potential for frequent lightning, torrential rain, and localized flash flooding. The greatest risk zone includes cities like Lima, Marion, Mansfield, and Findlay—especially during the evening commute.
Cleveland, Akron, and Youngstown may stay mostly dry, though increased cloud cover is expected across the region. Motorists along I-71 should stay alert, particularly near Medina and Ashland, where downpours could reduce visibility quickly. Isolated damaging wind gusts are also possible in stronger storm cells.
Residents west of I-71 should avoid unnecessary travel later today and charge phones and devices ahead of any power outages. While no widespread severe weather is expected, localized impacts could be significant.
More showers could develop overnight, and temperatures are expected to fall slightly through the rest of the week.
