Columbus, Ohio – Rain returns to the Ohio Valley through early Wednesday, but the bigger story is a much colder-than-normal stretch setting in for the next two weeks. Light to moderate rainfall is expected across parts of Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky, though no river flooding is anticipated.
According to the Ohio River Forecast Center, scattered rain will continue through 7 a.m. Wednesday, with totals averaging around 0.35 inches. Heavier pockets of rain may push closer to 1 inch in southern Ohio and northern Kentucky, but major waterways are expected to remain below flood thresholds.
The precipitation coincides with a sharp cooldown. From December 8 through 14, the Ohio Valley has a high likelihood of experiencing below-average temperatures, with widespread 60-70% probabilities shown on the latest NOAA outlook. Cities like Cincinnati, Dayton, and Charleston, WV, are likely to see daytime highs drop well below seasonal norms.
Drivers should stay alert for wet roads, particularly during the morning and evening commute hours. While icy conditions aren’t expected yet, continued cooling could bring winter hazards in the coming week.
Colder conditions are expected to dominate into mid-December. No active alerts are posted, but more advisories may be issued as temperatures drop further.
