Climate Summary
The major weather story of 2024 has been the drought conditions that began back in June and persisted throughout the summer and fall. This was capped off by this October ranking as the 7th driest October on record for Ohio (1895-2024), with 2024 year-to-date ranking as the warmest year for Ohio so far. However, conditions have finally started to moisten up over the last few weeks. Two-four inches of rain has fallen across southern Ohio, with much of the state reporting wetter than normal conditions (Figure 1). However, soil moisture recharge and improvements to streams, rivers, and lakes will take time. As of November 12, 2024, the US Drought Monitor shows about 5% of the state remains in D4 - exceptional drought with about 67% of the state still experiencing drought conditions (D1-D4).
If you are continuing to experience drought impacts or to document improvements, you can view and/or submit local reports at the Condition Monitoring Observer Reports page. For a more detailed look at conditions and resources, visit our Drought Response Page or for the latest up-to-date conditions, seasonal outlooks, and monthly climate summaries, please visit the State Climate Office of Ohio.
Weather Forecast
This week will feature a major weather pattern shift toward much colder conditions. A first in a series of cold fronts will bring rain showers to the region on Tuesday but temperatures will remain above normal in the 60s. A second cold front will keep showers around on Wednesday, followed by much colder air and windy conditions on Thursday. Snow showers and/or a mix of rain and snow are likely on Thursday with highs only in the 30s. Winds could gust to 30-40 mph, but snow accumulation should be kept to a mimum due to warm ground conditions. Damp conditions will persist on Friday before slowly improving weather resumes for the weekend. Highs are expected to close out the week in the 40s with overnight lows in the 20s and 30s. The Weather Prediction Center is currently forecasting 0.25-1.00” of liquid-equivalent precipitation this week, with higher amounts in northeast Ohio (Figure 2).
The 8-14 day outlook from the Climate Prediction Center and the 16-Day Rainfall Outlook from NOAA/NWS/Ohio River Forecast Center show that temperatures and precipitation probabilities are leaning toward above average (Figure 3). Climate averages include a high-temperature range of 48-52°F, a low-temperature range of 32-35°F, and weekly total precipitation of about 0.75.”
