Columbus set another record high Thursday, but temps to plunge Friday, flurries possible
Columbus set a record high temperature Thursday for Feb. 23, as this month continues to break records for warm temperatures generally not seen here until May.
The afternoon high at John Glenn Columbus International Airport on Thursday reached 73 degrees, according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington. That surpassed the previous record high temperature for Columbus for Feb. 23, which was 72 degrees set in 2017.
According to the NWS, Thursday's high got within five degrees of the warmest February day ever in Columbus, which was 78 degrees set on Feb. 24, 2017.
But on Friday, this year's Feb. 24, the weather will be quite the opposite.
A cold front moving in from the northwest Thursday night is going to send temperatures plummeting to a low of around 30 degrees. Winds will be 14 to 18 miles per hour, with gusts as high as 28 miles per hour.
[4:35 PM] At look at the current observations showing the sharp temperature contrast across our forecast area. pic.twitter.com/j179R7F4Vu
— NWS Wilmington OH (@NWSILN) February 22, 2023
On Friday, there will be mostly sunny skies, but the high will struggle to get near 40 degrees amid a north wind of 8 to 11 miles per hour. Friday night may bring a slight chance of snow flurries after 1 a.m., with mostly cloudy skies and a low of around 27 degrees. There will be an east wind of around 6 miles per hour, with a chance of precipitation at 20 percent, but no expected accumulation, the NWS said.
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Saturday will be partly sunny, with a high near 47 degrees and an east wind of around 6 miles per hour in the afternoon. Saturday night will be mostly cloudy, with a low of around 32 degrees. Sunday will be partly sunny, with a high near 55 degrees.
The rainy start to next week begins Sunday night into Monday morning, with a chance of rain after 1 a.m., mostly cloudy skies and a low of around 38 degrees. There will be a 50 percent chance of precipitation.
On Monday, rain showers are expected mainly after 7 a.m., with a high near 63 degrees and breezy conditions. The chance of precipitation is 90 percent. Monday night will likely bring showers, mainly before 1 a.m., with mostly cloudy skies and a low of around 39 degrees. It will be windy, and there is a 70 percent chance of precipitation.
A hazard weather outlook from the National Weather Service warns that 40 to 45 miles per hour wind gusts are expected on Monday into Monday night, with isolated gusts of 50 miles per hour or higher possible.
Tuesday will be partly sunny, with a high near 47 degrees and breezy conditions. Tuesday night will be partly cloudy, with a low of around 31 degrees. Wednesday will be partly sunny, with a high near 55 degrees.
Dispatch reporter Cole Behrens contributed to this report.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus weather: Record highs followed by chance of snow this weekend
