Columbus, Ohio – Nearly all of western and central Ohio is under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 10 p.m. Wednesday, with cities like Cincinnati, Dayton, and Columbus bracing for damaging winds, hail, and torrential rain.
According to the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center, Severe Thunderstorm Watch 437 covers 32 counties, including Franklin, Butler, Hamilton, and Montgomery. Thunderstorms may intensify rapidly through the evening hours, with winds gusting above 60 mph and isolated hail likely along I-70, I-71, and U.S. Route 23.
The watch zone stretches from Shelby and Mercer counties in the northwest to Scioto and Adams counties near the Ohio River. Residents in Pickaway, Greene, and Clermont counties should remain alert for warnings and be prepared to shelter if severe weather strikes.
Emergency officials advise avoiding unnecessary travel through 10 p.m., securing outdoor items, and charging mobile devices in case of outages. Spotty power losses and fallen limbs are possible, especially in more rural counties like Highland and Preble.
Storms are expected to weaken gradually after sunset, though additional alerts could be issued if conditions persist.
