Damaging winds, hail, heavy rain and isolated tornado potential.
CLEVELAND — Heat…check.
Strong cold front…check!
All the ingredients are there for a round of severe storms to roll through northern Ohio later tonight into the early morning hours Friday.
A Weather Impact Alert has been issued from tonight until sunrise on Friday morning due to the expected severe storms. It’s crucial to ensure that you have a way to receive and listen to warnings even while you are sleeping, as the storms are anticipated to be loud with abundant lightning and thunder. All forms of severe weather could potentially occur during this period.


Let’s talk timing. Between 1-5 a.m. is when we’re expecting this line of storms to roll through from west to east.


The forecast indicates the development of strong to severe storms on radar, starting from Wisconsin to Chicago later in the day and extending into the evening. These storms are projected to move eastward into Michigan, likely consolidating into a cluster of storms. The progression of these storms would be towards Ohio in an east-southeast direction, with a line of severe storms approaching from the northwest, affecting northern Ohio significantly.


During the overnight hours, these storms are expected to impact the region. Thursday night will be warm with high humidity, and temperatures in the 70s are expected to persist through the night. You may sense a disturbance in the atmosphere as a cluster of storms is likely to sweep through Michigan and into northern Ohio from the lake. The main threats from these storms include damaging winds, intense rainfall, and the possibility of hail as they swiftly move through the area.


This line of storms should clear out by morning and give way to quiet, sun-filled and warm conditions during the day Friday. We’ll have to watch the potential for another round of storms Friday night into early Saturday before drier, more comfortable air moves in for the weekend into next week.