Issued: 8pm on Sunday, April 26th 2026
Technical Forecast Discussion
Key Messages:
- Showers and thunderstorms to possibly return Tuesday and Wednesday as a Colorado low pushes northeastward this week.
- Temperatures will drop below normal by the end of the week, possibly dipping into near 60 by Thursday.
Short-Term Forecast (Sunday 04/26/2026 through Tuesday 04/28/2026):
High-pressure will sit over the region tonight into tomorrow, allowing skies to remain clear and temperatures to soar into the upper-70s on Monday. This will be assisted with a minor ridge aloft developing overnight tonight through Monday. Conditions will remain quite stable, though a Colorado low will begin to develop tonight, travelling northeastward by the start of the work week. This low will begin to intensify Monday morning, occluding shortly after as it continues its path just north of Ohio. The low will arrive by Tuesday morning, bringing Athens some rain at this time, though the storm risk remains relatively low at the moment. Thankfully, most of the rain is expected to arrive just by sunrise, generally clearing by early-to-mid morning. While some lingering sprinkles could follow throughout the remainder of the day, they aren’t expected to be significant as clouds begin to slowly dissipate throughout the afternoon.
Long-Term Forecast (Wednesday 04/29/2026 through Saturday 04/02/2026):
While Tuesday’s low will have exited the region by Wednesday, but a smaller low could briefly develop around the state, bringing another chance for a round of showers and thunderstorms on Wednesday. Severity is still unclear, but currently any storms may not be too impactful. These possible storms come alongside a very small shortwave to cross over the state Wednesday evening. As these lows move out of the region by Thursday, skies will begin to clear, upper-level convergence alongside a trough will support a surface high to advect cold air from Canada down into the state. This will allow our temperatures to cool substantially, dropping them below seasonal normals. Skies will continue to clear through the remainder of the week and into Saturday, though there is a chance for a stray shower on Friday, though the timing is still uncertain.
