The SPC has most of Central Ohio under an Enhanced Risk for severe weather today:
We've had over a half an inch of rain this morning, and in most cases this would really inhibit storm development later in the day. That's not the case today, as a warm front races in by noon and give us almost complete clearing. With a strong cold front approaching and temps soaring from the 40s to the 70s, we won't be in a high shear low cape environment.. we may actually be able to achieve some decent instability for early Spring.
By mid afternoon we should make it to the mid 1000s J/kg, which in a high shear environment should be more than enough to support supercells.
Expect storms to initiate by early to mid afternoon, with individual cells expected along and west of US23. Eventually these will gel in to a quasi-linear area of storms that'll race across eastern Ohio:
On top of all of this, we should see some significant wind gusts mix down to the surface as the sun comes out, allowing 40-50mph gusts through late afternoon here in Central Ohio.
OUR RISK
I think our greatest risk this afternoon will be from straight line winds embedded within thunderstorms. Eastern Ohio is where the greatest tornadic threat will be this afternoon, but I can't rule out a tornado for us here in Central Ohio.
I'll be posting all day on Twitter with updates. Keep your weather radio nearby!
