Cincinnati, Ohio – A muggy and unsettled Wednesday is on tap for the Ohio Valley as isolated thunderstorms threaten to drench neighborhoods with bursts of heavy rain through tonight. Some spots could see downpours strong enough to trigger minor street flooding and slow the evening commute.
According to the National Weather Service in Wilmington, temperatures will hold near seasonal norms, with highs in the mid to upper 80s from Dayton and Cincinnati eastward to Chillicothe and Athens. Rain chances peak this afternoon and evening, with the best odds (up to 30%) stretching across southwestern and central counties, including Butler, Warren, and Franklin. While most towns stay dry, any thunderstorm could quickly drop a half-inch or more of rain in a short time, especially along I-71 and I-75.
Drivers are urged to watch for ponding on roads and brief visibility drops where storms develop. Outdoor plans may need a backup, particularly from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Residents are advised to secure loose outdoor items and have weather alerts enabled for rapidly changing conditions. Power outages are not expected to be widespread, but isolated issues can’t be ruled out if storms intensify.
Storm chances gradually taper overnight, with drier weather returning for the second half of the week. Updates from the National Weather Service will continue if the storm threat grows.
