Issued: 8am on Thursday, April 23rd 2026
Technical Forecast Discussion
Key Messages:
- Warm temperatures continue through the remainder of the week and into the weekend, remaining at or near 80 through Monday at least.
- Rain and possibly a rumble of thunder could return Saturday, but another chance could follow on Tuesday as a potent Colorado low sweeps over Ohio.
Short-Term Forecast (Thursday 04/23/2026 through Saturday 04/25/2026):
A potent low will continue developing eastward, rapidly maturing before occluding shortly after in southern Canada. A separate low will develop towards the cold and stationary fronts, still attached to the occluded low to the north. The stationary front and minor ridge will allow for temperatures to remain quite warm, settling in the 80s Thursday and Friday. Relatively stable conditions will settle over Ohio these two days, keeping skies quite clear, allowing for plenty of sun to heat the air, but also let longwave radiation to reflect back into space, dramatically cooling temperatures overnight. As we move into Saturday, the aforementioned low will sweep over Ohio, bringing the chance for more rain with the chance for a rumble of thunder or two during the day. Thankfully, most of the rain seems like it’ll impact Athens in the morning just after sunrise, with any possible rumbles of thunder before then. Nothing severe is expected, but breezy conditions will persist through the short-term, so hopefully these winds offer some form of relief against the hot temperatures!
Long-Term Forecast (Sunday 04/26/2026 through Wednesday 04/29/2026):
Conditions will stabilize by Sunday as high-pressure fills in behind Saturday’s low, bringing temperatures down briefly into the mid-70s. Some clouds will persist as zonal flow briefly dominates the state before another ridge forms just behind it. Another chance for rain and storms could return Tuesday due to yet a Colorado low rapidly approaches Ohio Monday and Tuesday. Winds will pick up substantially for the start of the work week as the low sits just off to the west of the state. A shortwave will develop aloft, following alongside this low and aiding it in its development. Afterwards, strong cold air advection will follow just behind the cold front associated with this Colorado low, finally allowing temperatures to steadily fall into the end of the week.
