One More Night of Heat - Storms Later

3:20 AM CVG: 82°, HEAT INDEX 87°

You're not mis-reading that above observation. At 3 AM Eastern Time Cincinnati is still above 80 degrees. Last night, if you recall, I said it didn't get below 80 until nearly 1 in the morning.

We'll probably stay near 80, or above, until sometime around 5-7 AM (the exception: If you get under a brief shower, you might just cool off a few degrees and drop below that 80 degree mark). Showers and storms will move in from the west and northwest. These are in association with what is really more of a "wind shift line" than a "cold front". Yes, the temperatures will drop behind this - but only for maybe a day. The main effect is that winds will go from the southwest to the northeast. Even that won't last as winds will quickly back around to the southeast again by Monday night into Tuesday.

Keep an eye on these storms today - they will have the potential of producing heavy rainfall and, if they are delayed for very long OR we get a break in activity, possibly being severe with damaging winds being the biggest threat. We'll have our eyes on the situation throughout the day.

~Jeremy Moses
@NKYWx on Twitter.com

PS: There may be some confusion as to why an Excessive Heat Warning was issued by the Weather Service for Cincinnati and Dayton proper - but only Heat Advisories for the other counties of the warning area.

Here's the explanation. Wilmington's policy is as follows for Excessive Heat Warnings versus Heat Advisories:

Heat Advisory:

All Zones: When the heat index values range between 100-104 degrees.

Excessive Heat Warning:

Outside the cities of Cincinnati and Dayton: Anytime the heat index reaches past 105 degrees.

In Cincinnati and Dayton, specifically for Hamilton and Montgomery Counties: Either the above OR if heat index values of 100-104 persist for a second consecutive day or more.

As yesterday was the second day of 100-104 degree heat index values in Cincinnati and Dayton themselves, that triggered local Excessive Heat Warning criteria. Due to the criteria being more strict outside those two cities, a warning wasn't called. However I do have reports that a few areas *MAY* have breached those criteria a time or two.

HEAT INDEX VALUES DANGEROUS AGAIN SATURDAY

4:35 AM CVG: 78°, Fair at 4 AM EDT

As you can see, the heat has become extremely oppressive across the area. We did not even drop out of the 80s until sometime close to 1 AM EDT!

This, combined with expected heat index values from 100-104° and temperatures close to 96°, has resulted in the National Weather Service issuing these advisories and warnings:

All Counties Outside Cities of Cincinnati and Dayton: HEAT ADVISORY 12 NOON TO 8 PM TODAY

Hamilton and Montgomery Counties: EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING 12 NOON TO 8 PM TODAY

In the City of Cincinnati a HEAT EMERGENCY exists for today.

Tonight look for temperatures to drop only into the middle 70s, much like Friday night.

On Sunday, a front will move towards the Tri-State and you can look for showers and thunderstorms to dominate your Sunday. Currently the Storm Prediction Center has us in a SLIGHT RISK of severe thunderstorms. Stay tuned for more on that possibility.

After that, we will be only about ten degrees cooler but we will be less humid as well and that should help some for a couple days, even if we rise into the upper 80s we'll still only be in the upper 60s or lower 70s. (It's not a good thing when you're saying "ONLY" upper 60s or lower 70s.)

~Jeremy Moses

@NKYWx on Twitter

FLOODING PROBLEMS THIS EVENING

5:30 PM CVG 70°, T-Storm and Fog

FLASH FLOOD WARNING NORTHERN CAMPBELL AND KENTON COUNTIES UNTIL 5:45 PM

HEAT EMERGENCY CITY OF CINCINNATI WEDNESDAY-FRIDAY

Flash flooding has occurred across parts of Covington and Newport this afternoon. Cars have been submerged, roads closed, and basements flooded.

We remind you: PLEASE DO NOT DRIVE INTO FLOODED ROADWAYS!!! The water may be too deep to cross safely.

Flood problems could continue into the evening...but the good news is the rain has gotten a kick to the east and should end by about 9 PM everywhere.

What Happened

The reason for the flooding this afternoon is that a meso-low pressure system developed just east of downtown.

If you have monitored our Twitter account during severe weather you may sometimes read where I say a "mesocyclone" developed somewhere and you need to be taking cover.

Well, this is similar. However it wasn't a tight enough circulation that severe weather was imminent. It was large enough that the rain could rotate around it, and it did so...with the pivot point just east of Covington and Newport, somewhere in southwest Clermont and/or southeast Hamilton counties.

The result was what we call a "train" of heavy rain that more or less didn't move much until another trough of low pressure could kick the meso-low east - which happened shortly after 4:30 PM, which resulted in the flooding across Covington, Newport and Fort Thomas.

~Jeremy Moses

UPDATED 11:25 AM: Rain In the Area Now, Will Remain Rest of the Day

11:15 AM CVG 74º, Rain, Fog

UPDATE BELOW FOR HEAT EMERGENCY, FLOOD ADVISORY INFORMATION

Rain moved into the southwestern part of the area this morning and has spread northeast across the entire area.

We can expect rain, heavy at times, to impact the tri-state through the day, but NO SEVERE WEATHER is anticipated as of right now. However...flood problems could occur as a direct result of so much rain and in fact a FLOOD ADVISORY is in effect for Pike and Scioto Counties east of the Cincinnati metro until 12:45 PM. UPDATE 11:25 AM: A NEW FLOOD ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR ADAMS, BROWN AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES IN SOUTHWEST OHIO UNTIL 3:15 PM EDT.

Rain will diminish in coverage tonight. Tomorrow looks HOT and a heat advisory could be issued by the National Weather Service office in Wilmington this afternoon.

UPDATE 11:25 AM: A HEAT EMERGENCY has been issued by the City of Cincinnati for Wednesday through Friday as heat index values will easily exceed 95 degrees and may exceed 100 degrees.

NOTE: There are 5000 people without power in parts of Hamilton County right now. Please remember to treat intersections where the stoplights are out as a FOUR WAY STOP until further notice, and check on your neighbors who may have serious medical conditions that require the use of electricity to power any devices. It's unclear when power will be restored.

~Jeremy Moses

Not So Warm, But Could Be Wet

9:30 AM CVG: 73°, Cloudy

It was a very wet morning here in the Tri-State, and there was a Flash Flood Warning for Butler and Warren counties and points north before 8 AM.

We're drying out for now, however more storms could pop up at anytime this afternoon. The biggest threat from these storms will be heavy rain. However, one or two isolated severe thunderstorms cannot be ruled out.

More storms may pop tomorrow and Wednesday.

~Jeremy Moses

HOT, HOT, HOT

SMOG ALERT EXTENDED THROUGH THURSDAY - BOONE, BUTLER, CAMPBELL, CLERMONT, HAMILTON, KENTON, WARREN COUNTIES
HEAT EMERGENCY THROUGH FRIDAY - CITY OF CINCINNATI

4:00 PM CVG - 89°, Sunny to Partly Cloudy - many spots across the area at or above 90°

The heat is on, yet again, across the tri-state area. The city of Cincinnati has a Heat Emergency due to the extreme heat, and 25 cooling centers are open Monday through Friday.

We're looking at more of the same through Friday, so be sure you stay inside and out of the heat, especially if you're among those most sensitive to hot temperatures. Heat index values could approach 103° tomorrow and Thursday.

The next chance of rain is Thursday night and Friday, as a cold front finally will sweep in and take the worst of the heat and humidity east and out of the area.

Stay cool!

~Jeremy Moses