The thousands of people attending the Dublin Irish Festival, the Ohio State Fair and Pelotonia this weekend should be prepared for potential severe weather.
The National Weather Service in Wilmington issued a hazardous weather outlook just after 9 a.m. on Aug. 1 for Columbus, as well as much of central and southern Ohio. The hazardous weather outlook covers a 21-county region that includes, Franklin, Delaware, Licking, Fairfield, Pickaway, Madison and Union counties.
Thunderstorms are expected on the afternoon of Aug. 1, according to the NWS. Some could be severe. Potential damaging winds and locally heavy rainfall could lead to pockets of flooding issues.
Storms moving through Ohio will be capable of producing heavy rainfall, damaging wind gusts
and "brief tornadoes."
Heavy precipitation could pour on several planned outdoor events in the area, including the two-day Pelotonia race that touched off early on Aug. 1, the Ohio State Fair and the Dublin Irish Festival.
Rain and thunderstorms are expected to continue Aug. 2, with localized flooding threats where showers are intense.
Precipitation is expected to continue for much of the following week, with chances of showers and thunderstorms every day through Aug. 7.
National Weather Service forecast for Columbus for the weekend of Aug. 1
Aug. 1: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 5 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. South wind 7 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Aug. 1 night: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 2 a.m. Low around 69. Southeast wind 7 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Aug. 2: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. High near 82. South wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Aug. 2 night: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 11 p.m., then a chance of showers between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. North wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Aug. 3: A slight chance of thunderstorms, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 8 a.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 81. North wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Aug. 3 night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Storms forecast as thousands attend Pelotonia, Dublin Irish fest, state fair
