“It was one of those heavy, sultry afternoons when nature seems to be saying to itself, ‘Now, shall I, or shall I not, scare the pants off these people with a hell of a thunderstorm?” — P.G. Wodehouse, Jeeves and the Tie That Binds
MANSFIELD — English author and humorist Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse may have had north central Ohio in mind when he penned this comic novel 50 years ago.
Goodness knows we have come to know thunderstorms and heavy rains this summer. Given what we know of Wodehouse and his writings, it’s quite likely he would enjoy our weather-related discomfort.
“A sound like two or three pigs feeding rather noisily in the middle of a thunderstorm interrupted his meditation,” is a line he offered in Leave It to Psmith.
And we are about to be reintroduced to that interruption, if the National Weather Service office in Cleveland is to be believed.
Hence, the NWS has authored a “hazardous weather outlook” for the area for the next couple of days, starting later Wednesday night, for a widespread swath of Ohio, including Richland, Ashland, Knox and Crawford counties.
Showers and thunderstorms are expected to approach our area from the northwest after midnight. A few thunderstorms may be strong with wind gusts approaching severe limits.
All showers and storms will be associated with heavy rainfall, which may lead to isolated flash flooding.
But it doesn’t stop there.
Thunderstorms will move across the area on Thursday, some reaching severe criteria. The primary threat will be strong and damaging winds. But, the NWS said, hail and an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out.
Storms will again have heavy rainfall, which may lead to more flash flooding.
It will be sunny much of today with a high of 85. There is a 20 percent of showers and thunderstorms after 3 p.m.
The light and sound show begins after midnight, though more likely after 4 a.m. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch are expected, with higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Showers and thunderstorms continue Thursday, mainly before 2 p.m. with a high of 80 degrees. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch are expected, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
On Thursday night, there is a chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11 p.m. and then a slight chance of showers between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m.
The good news, assuming we all survive, is the weather looks good for the weekend.
It will be mostly sunny Friday with a high near 76. More sun is expected Saturday with a high near 78. There is a chance of showers Sunday, though it will be mostly sunny with a high near 75.
