CLEVELAND — We could certainly use the rainfall across northern Ohio as most of us are running anywhere from 1-4 inches below average. We don't need it all at once, though, and that's the way the atmosphere is structured today to produce some heavy rainfall for some.
Let's break down the details of our Weather Impact Alert Day Today:
WHAT AND WHEN
We're expecting the radar to light up pretty quickly later this morning as an area of low pressure and a cold front collide over Northeast Ohio. This will produce plenty of lift in the atmosphere. With a lot of moisture in place, we'll be cranking out some efficient rainfall producers by midday into the early afternoon. The timeframe for the most impactful weather will be between noon and 4 p.m.
IMPACT
Where storms travel over the same areas, flooding will be possible -- especially in urban areas with poor drainage. Our ground can soak in anywhere from 1-1.5 inches of rain over a three-hour period before beginning to flood, so we have a bit of a cushion with our dry ground. The problem arises when we get 1-1.5 inches of rain in less than a three-hour window. That potential is there today.
NEED
Just plan ahead in terms of where you'll be and what you'll be doing between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. today. If heavy rain were to materialize, are you in a flood-prone area? Do you have outdoor plans? The WKYC App -- which you can download for free HERE -- is a great tool as well, with location-based warnings and interactive radar.
The threat of heavy rain, strong storms and flooding will end quickly later this afternoon into the evening. Drier air and sunshine are expected for Thursday.