After Cincinnati shattered a nearly century-old daily temperature record, the region is in for a dramatic weather swing, with severe storm chances, heavy rain and even frost in the forecast.
Cincinnati hit 89 degrees Tuesday, breaking the Oct. 13 record of 88 degrees set in 1928. By Saturday, highs are expected to be about 30 degrees cooler, reaching only 57 degrees.
Maximum daily temperature records for the date October 13 have been set.
— NWS Wilmington OH (@NWSILN) October 13, 2026
Columbus has reached 87 degrees so far, breaking the previous record of 85 degrees set in 1969.
Cincinnati has reached 89 degrees so far, breaking the previous record of 88 degrees set in 1928.
The transition won't be quiet.
The National Weather Service says multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms are expected
through Thursday, with damaging winds, hail, heavy rain and localized flooding all possible. The greatest severe weather threat arrives Wednesday afternoon and evening, when isolated storms could produce strong winds and large hail.
Isolated severe weather will be possible Wednesday afternoon/evening. Repeated rounds of rainfall Wednesday afternoon into Wednesday night will allow for a flooding concern as well. pic.twitter.com/cVc5ShGM2I
— NWS Wilmington OH (@NWSILN) October 13, 2026
Additional storms are expected Thursday ahead of a cold front that will sweep through Friday morning. Strong wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph are possible Friday as temperatures fall throughout the day behind the front.
By the weekend, much cooler air will settle into the region. Temperatures are expected to drop into the 30s Saturday morning, with patchy frost possible.
Falling temperatures and northwest wind 20 gusting to 30 mph are expected with a cold frontal passage early Friday, bringing fall-like conditions. Overnight lows Fri and Sat night will be in the upper and lower 30s, respectively. pic.twitter.com/mi2d1nSx6a
— NWS Wilmington OH (@NWSILN) October 13, 2026
Cincinnati weather forecast
Wednesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. High near 84. South wind 5 to 7 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Wednesday night: Showers and thunderstorms before 11 p.m., then a chance of showers. Low around 64. Light northeast wind. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Thursday: A chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 5 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. Southwest wind 5 to 9 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Friday: Showers likely, mainly before 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 65. Northwest wind 11 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Friday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 41.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 57.
Saturday night: Clear, with a low around 36.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 64.
Sunday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 43.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 66.
Monday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47.
Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 70.
Source: National Weather Service in Wilmington
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati shatters a 98-year-old heat record, braces for storms, frost
