First Alert Weather This Evening

2:30 PM  FIRST ALERT DOPPLER

A line of storms is developing from

Gary, Indiana to Champaign, Illinois.

This line is moving east and will

bring heavy downpours,

dangerous lightning and

gusty winds this evening.

HOUR-BY-HOUR 

6:00 PM

Chance of showers picks up in Toledo.

Lightning/thunder possible west.

7:00 PM

Chance of thunderstorms

reaches the I-75 corridor.

8:00 PM

Fast-moving chance of

thunderstorms races east.

Be sure to check LIVE First Alert Doppler.

First Alert Weather App will keep you

updated on any watches or warnings.

I will have the latest timing on WTOL at 5:00 PM.

Robert Shiels WTOL    @RobertWTOL

96 Years Ago Today...

The first round of strong and severe storms of the seasons moved through the area last night. But 96 years ago in 1920 on Palm Sunday a much bigger but largely forgotten local tornado outbreak struck. 

Below are images (courtesy of the Toledo Lucas County Public Library) of damage in Swanton and Raab. If you're not familiar Raab no longer exists as a town, but was located in western Lucas County. The damage following this day of storms was so extensive in the small town that it was not rebuilt. 

Raab, OH

Raab, OH

Swanton, OH

Extensive damage was also reported in Defiance County and other parts of Northwest Ohio. At least 19 people died in the storms.

Here is the official weather map from March 28, 1920:

Over time, this 1920 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak has largely been overshadowed by the 1965 outbreak on the same date. 

Easter Sunday Forecast in 3 Images

Easter may be early in the calendar year in 2016 but that doesn't mean it will be chilly!

Highs will reach well into the 60's and likely into the low 70's. 

We are tracking heavy rain showers and a few thundershowers late Sunday night. Most outdoor plans Sunday will not need to be altered, we expect rain to arrive near and after sunset. 

First Alert Weather App On The Go!

It is incredibly simple and extremely useful!  Download the WTOL First Alert Weather App and take it on the go while you travel or are on vacation!

Already have the App? Here is how to add a location. Open the App and click on the location on the top center:

 

Click to "Add Location".  Enter you destination city.

 

And Enjoy!  All the great features of the weather App...current conditions, hour by hour forecast and the 10 day forecast. Happy travels to a safe spring break!

 

~Meteorologist Chris Vickers

A Brighter Friday

FRIDAY FORECAST

Friday will start off chilly.

Sunshine will make for a pleasant afternoon.

8:00 AM  FRIDAY

Start the morning mostly cloudy.

2:00 PM  FRIDAY

Expect a much brighter afternoon.

 PLAN YOUR WEEKEND

Saturday:  partly sunny, mild.

Easter Sunday:  a chance of showers.

Robert Shiels WTOL    @RobertWTOL

March Showers Thursday

HOUR-BY-HOUR

Showers are likely in the morning.

Highs will reach the low 60s

by mid-afternoon when

thunderstorms are possible.

THURSDAY  10:00 AM

Scattered showers are likely in the morning.

THURSDAY  3:00 PM

Highs reaching the low-to-mid 60s.

A line of showers/thunderstorms

will sweep into NW Oh and SE Mi.

THURSDAY  6:00 PM

A line of showers/thunderstorms

will be moving east of I-75.

Heavy downpours and gusty winds

may increase in intensity.

Robert Shiels WTOL    @RobertWTOL

HOW DID WE DO ON THIS ONE?

FORECAST FOR

WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON

This graphic appeared on-air and online.

You can see it in a previous post here.

WEDNESDAY 5:00 PM

Actual temperatures Wednesday afternoon.

You can see by 5:00 PM the front nudged

just south of Wauseon, BG and Fremont.

Robert Shiels WTOL    @RobertWTOL

Chilly Lake Breeze & Spring Thunderstorms

Keep a warmer jacket in hand today, especially as a chilly lake breeze drives inland between 5 PM  and 9 PM this evening.  The warmest weather today will be far south of Toledo where highs may make a run through the 60s to near 70 degrees!

Hour By Hour Forecast 5 PM

Hour By Hour Forecast 9 PM

Warmer air surges back in tomorrow with highs back into the 60s.  Along with this warm-up rain showers and spring thunderstorms will be expected.  One round of thundershowers in the morning tomorrow with a second round of thundershowers Thursday afternoon.

Thursday Morning 8 AM

Thursday Afternoon 5 PM

~Meteorologist Chris Vickers

Lake Breeze Developing Wednesday

BIG WEATHER CHANGES

TUESDAY TO WEDNESDAY

TUESDAY:  HOUR-BY-HOUR

It will warm up quickly Tuesday

on strong southwest breezes.

Afternoon highs will reach 59-64°.

It will be warmer right up to the lakeshore.

WEDNESDAY

A lake breeze may develop Wednesday.

This will create a wide difference

in temperatures across the area.

LAKE BREEZE

Lake Erie water temperature near Toledo

was measured Monday afternoon at 43°.

Wednesday afternoon temperatures will be

as cool as the low-to-mid 40s near the lake.

Meanwhile it could be as much as 20°

warmer across our southern counties.

Always be sure to check your latest

hour-by-hour forecast.

Robert Shiels WTOL    @RobertWTOL

Windy Afternoon, Hang On!

A windy and wild Wednesday!  A so called "cold" front will bring drier air and very windy weather this afternoon.  The cold? Not so much, that aspect will be on a delayed arrival.  Although windy, it will be very mild with highs into the low and middle 60s this afternoon!

Surface Map @ 7 AM

A wind advisory is anchored in place all afternoon for sustained winds out of the southwest 20-35 mph and gusts 40 to 50 mph. 

High Wind Advisory

Brighter sunshine and dry air will accompany the gusty winds later today.  The much cooler air arrives late in the work week and into the weekend with highs closer to 40 degrees.

Wind Gust Prediction @ 5 PM

~Meteorologist Chris Vickers

Strong Storms After Midnight

Dry and mild weather will be expected this afternoon and evening with highs near 60 degrees.  A round of spring thunderstorms, a few possibly strong arrive after midnight tonight. 

Storm Threat Tonight

The greatest risk of severe weather will be this evening across Illinois and Indiana.  However, after midnight, storms will move out of Indiana and into Ohio.  The main threat would be gusty winds and minor wind damage with a few isolated strong storms.

Greatest Severe Threat -- Illinois and Indiana

Hour By Hour Forecast Details

4 AM Wednesday

6 AM Wednesday

8 AM Wednesday

 Be Alert for potential strong storms tonight.  It will be dry by mid morning on Wednesday, then turn VERY Windy tomorrow afternoon.  Winds may gust to 45 mph much of tomorrow afternoon.  Updates on air and on the First Alert Weather App!

~Meteorologist Chris Vickers

Spring T-Storms Possible Today

This afternoon will bring another round of rain showers and possible rumble of thunder late this afternoon and evening.  Here is a look toward the evening drive today:

5 PM Today

 Rain showers, a few heavier showers arrive into the south.

7 PM This Evening

Rumbles of thunder are possible -- the greatest threat far south and east of Toledo.  

9 PM This Evening

Rain and a few isolated thundershowers track to the east of Toledo after dark.  Rain ends for most by midnight.  Areas of fog may develop after midnight tonight. 

~Meteorologist Chris Vickers

More Records Next Week?

Coming off our first 70 degree day of the year -- the First Alert Weather Team is back at it. Forecasting more very warm weather into next week! 

Following widespread rain showers Thursday and another round of showers this weekend the pattern is going to re-load toward the middle of this month. Similar to this week the key to this pattern will be a high pressure off the Atlantic coast and a strong low pressure in the plains states. 

If you haven't made plans for St. Patrick's Day this forecast may start getting you in gear! We're forecasting near record highs over a week away. 

If you're reading this post on the First Alert Weather App -- go to the menu and select 10 day forecast. It's only there you will see the warmest forecast in town for next week. 

Record High This Week?

It was late last month that we first started to alert you to a big March warm-up that we saw coming down the weather pipeline. Here is a tweet from Meteorologist Ryan Wichman on February 28th: 

Now the second week of March lies directly ahead of us and the warmest weather on the year so far is coming. It's important to note, this is the warmest forecast you'll find in Toledo. 

The record high of 67° on Wednesday is likely to fall this week. The set-up matches many historical patterns that saw Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan quickly into spring during early March. 

Big West Coast Snow

You've seen our forecast for warmer weather this week -- and that means our snow will be going away quick! But that isn't the case on the west coast where a massive storm will bring up to a foot of rain and several feet of snow to the mountains.

CAZ096-097-060600-
/O.CON.KHNX.WS.W.0007.160306T0000Z-160308T0200Z/
SIERRA NEVADA FROM YOSEMITE TO KINGS CANYON-
TULARE COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...SHAVER LAKE...YOSEMITE VALLEY...
CAMP NELSON...GIANT FOREST...JOHNSONDALE...LODGEPOLE
148 PM PST SAT MAR 5 2016

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM PST MONDAY...

* SNOW TOTALS...3 TO 5 FEET ABOVE 8000 FEET...WITH 1 TO 3 FEET
  BETWEEN 6000 AND 8000 FEET AND UP TO A FOOT AT LOWER ELEVATIONS.

* SNOW LEVELS...STARTING OUT AROUND 8000 FEET THIS EVENING THEN
  LOWERING TO AROUND 4500 FEET BY SUNDAY AFTERNOON. SNOW LEVELS
  WILL BOTTOM OUT AROUND 3500 FEET BY MONDAY MORNING.

The heavy rain/snow is starting tonight and will last for several days.