Ohio – The heavy rain threat for Sunday keeps growing across Ohio, and it’s bad news for anyone with outdoor plans. Forecast models are now showing a more consistent westward shift in the axis of heaviest rain, bringing the potential for 2 inches or more farther west than earlier forecasts suggested. Guidance has also been trending wetter across much of the region as tropical moisture from the remnants of Isaias gets pulled north. Sunday is shaping up to be a widespread soaker, with localized flooding possible where the heaviest rain bands set up.
Where the Heaviest Rain Is Expected
The latest rainfall outlook shows a band of 2 inches or more running through central and eastern Ohio. The zone stretches from Columbus and Lancaster northeast through Mansfield, Akron, Canton, New Philadelphia, and Zanesville, and south toward Athens.
Northeast Ohio, including Cleveland, Sandusky, and Youngstown, is expected to see around 1 to 2 inches of rain. Farther west, totals drop off: Marion, Springfield, and Dayton are forecast to get less than 1 inch, while northwest Ohio, including Toledo, Bowling Green, Defiance, Lima, and Celina, may see less than half an inch.
Westward Shift Getting Close Attention
The biggest change in the forecast is that the 2-inch rainfall zone has moved west. If that trend continues, places that were expected to get lighter rain, including parts of the Columbus metro and central Ohio, could end up with considerably more than first thought.
With tropical moisture involved, heavier rain bands can also form in small areas, producing much higher totals over short distances. One town could get a soaking while another just a few miles away sees noticeably less.
Rain Arrives Saturday Night
Rain is expected to begin spreading into southern Ohio, including the Columbus area, between 9 p.m. and midnight Saturday. From there, it will move north and northeast overnight…