Friday afternoon flooding in west Toledo

STREET FLOODING

ON CHARLESTOWN AVE

This was the scene on numerous streets

in west Toledo Friday afternoon.

Heavy thundershowers developed and

remained nearly stationary

between 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM.

FIRST ALERT DOPPLER

RAIN TOTALS 

While portions of south Toledo and Monroe

county got a good soaking, it is clear from

this image west Toledo was hit hardest.

Rain accumulations of over 2" fell in an area

bounded by Laskey Rd. to the north, Dorr St.

to the south, Talmadge Rd. to the west

and Upton Ave. to the east.

Robert Shiels WTOL    @RobertWTOL

Monday Outlook

A few spots saw some much needed rainfall overnight but most of the thunderstorms are long gone now. An isolated thunderstorm may develop this afternoon, but likely it will just be a warm and muggy day. 

Highs will approach 90 degrees, a very warm afternoon. 

It's opening day for the Seneca County Fair! Sure will be a warm first day at the fairgrounds but the week trends cooler as we go along. 

First Alert Days

That's right, we have THREE First Alert Days in the forecast, all thanks to this powerful heat wave that is building in the central part of the United States. 

This bulge of heat and humidity is allowing temperatures to climb into the lower to mid 90s and feel like 100+. 

Each of these First Alert Days not only bring oppressive heat and humidity but also storm chances beginning this evening. 

To track the storms and the heat for tonight and this weekend, download our First Alert Weather app so you can follow along with us. 

Heat Wave, High Humidity

Get ready for soaring temperatures and overbearing humidity, because a heat wave is on the way! By Thursday afternoon you will begin to feel the air thicken up and the heat bear down. Temperatures will say lower 90s but will feel near 100. 

This hot and heavy air is coming from a bulge in the Jet Stream. This allows excessive summer heat and humidity to climb north from the Gulf of Mexico. 

Many neighboring states to the west and south are already finding themselves under Excessive Heat warnings, watches and advisories. We are expecting to be placed under similar cautions in the coming days. 

That is why we have issued three FIRST ALERT DAYS. Friday, Saturday and Sunday have been issued as First Alert Days to forewarn you about hot temperatures (low to mid 90s), oppressive humidity (heat index touching 100 degrees), and daily chances of showers and thunderstorms. 

Make sure to download our First Alert Weather App, follow us on online and always stayed tuned to WTOL for the latest update on these hot summer days ahead. 

Heat Building, Heading Our Way

Since last week our team of First Alert Meteorologists have been tracking a big warm-up! Some of the warmest weather of the year so far far arrives late this week and into the upcoming weekend. 

This ridge of high pressure will first lead to head headlines in the central portions of the United States. Heat Watches and Warnings are already in place from Louisiana to North Dakota, including Chicago, St. Louis and Kansas City. 

Over the next few days this heat will spill into the Great Lakes, pushing our highs well into the 90's. Locally the heat Index (what it feels like) will climb over 100° in the mid-afternoon hours.

The First Alert Weather team has issued a 'First Alert Day' for Saturday. It's our way of giving you a heads up that this is a day to pay attention to. It will be one of the warmest feeling days of the year and the potential for strong storms exists. We encourage you to keep checking back with our forecasts this week to keep a close eye on the weekend developments. 

32+ Month Tornado Drought

Cloverdale, Jerry City, North Baltimore and Oregon no doubt haven’t forgotten the tornadoes on November 17^th back in 2013. The First Alert Weather team was able to give 7-days warning of severe weather that day. But little did we know at the time, it would be over two and a half years before our next touchdown. 

               We are now entering our 33rd month without a tornado touching down in our viewing area. That ties it for the longest twister-free streak since accurate records began in the 1950’s. 

               As of Monday afternoon our forecast includes the chances for scattered strong storms by the upcoming weekend, but these typically feature more straight line winds than tornadoes. A First Alert Day has been issued for Saturday for the threat of hot summer heat and strong storms. Please stay tuned for more updates. Download and check the First Alert Weather App: http://onelink.to/k76wpm

Below are images of the First Alert Tornado Report graphic. These are all tornado reports in our viewing area since 1951. Note each icon is a starting location of a tornado, not the path. Green indicated an EF0 or EF1, yellow is EF2, orange is EF3 and red is EF4. There has never been a recorded EF5 tornado locally: 

Nice Round of Rain & Storms

Booming thunderstorms and some heavier downpours brought some nice rain to the area.  It was timely and much needed rain.  However, many areas still remain in or near drought territory.  Here are some of the detailed rainfall reports from Monday morning:

Defiance: 1.59

Walbridge: 1.14"

Toledo (Express): 1.04"

Carroll Twp. 0.99"

Marblehead: 0.96"

Swanton: 0.93"

Clay Twp. 0.85"

Lake Twp. 0.83"

Toledo (Executive): 0.69"

Wauseon: 0.69"
Edgerton: 0.50"

Findlay: 0.44"

Arlington: 0.42"

Fayette: 0.40"

Sandusky: 0.38"
Perrysburg: 0.38"
Archbold: 0.34"
Fremont: 0.34"
Van Buren: 0.33"
Napoleon: 0.26"
Bellevue: 0.26"
Kelleys Island: 0.20"
Montpelier: 0.17"
Sylvania: 0.12"
Tiffin: 0.09"
Bowling Green: 0.09"
Grand Rapids: 0.07"
Dundee: 0.06"

Most of the soaking rain happened between 3 to 6 AM.  Rainfall totals for most were one quarter to one half of an inch.  However, where heavier downpours persisted, some spots saw over 1" of nice rainfall!

First Alert Doppler 3 AM

First Alert Doppler 4 AM

First Alert Doppler 5 AM

Latest Drought Monitor 

~Meteorologist Chris Vickers

Storms Possible Tonight, Heat This Week

Looking to the west there are some big thunderstorms developing near Chicago tonight. Here is a 3D view that only First Alert Doppler can make. These storms rise to near 50,000 feet into the air!

Closing in on 10pm on Sunday Evening, a few thunderstorms of our own have developed near Van Wert. Scattered T-Showers are possible overnight, but no severe weather is expected. 

This is a big week for Ottawa County with the fair starting Monday. The forecast has plenty of heat in it! 

This has been our warmest summer in several years, but still nothing close to the record setter in 2012!

T-Storms Likely Tonight!

Thunderstorms are looking likely this evening, firing up after 4 PM.  This may bring our greatest and most widespread chance of rain and storms in many weeks.  The difference this time is that two distinct waves of energy are tracking toward our area with ideal timing to bring thunderstorms this evening. See the storm clusters already on radar in the Central Plains.

Latest Satellite & Radar

Thunderstorm chances will arrive after 4 PM.

Hour By Hour -- 7 PM

 Heavy downpours will be possible as thunderstorms continue through dusk. 

Hour By Hour -- 9 PM

The threat of storms will continue through midnight.  Gentle thunder and lightning may still be heard as you head to bed tonight. 

Hour By Hour -- 11 PM

How much rainfall will be possible?  It may sound a bit hopeful, but many areas could see over 1" of rainfall.  

Total Rainfall Possible

~Meteorologist Chris Vickers

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Chance of Thundershowers This Evening?

FIRST ALERT DOPPLER

At 5:30 PM First Alert Doppler is picking

up a line of thundershowers out west.

The line runs from Grand Rapids, MI

through South Bend, IN.

Severe weather is unlikely and no

watches will be issued this evening.

HOUR-BY-HOUR 

8:00 PM:  Thundershowers are possible

across Hillsdale, Lenawee, Williams,

Fulton, Defiance and Henry counties.

9:00 PM:  The chance of a thundershower

moves into the Toledo Metro Area.

10:00 PM:  As the sun sets the chance of

an isolated thundershower continues.

11:00 PM:  Toward the midnight hour the

chance of showers should fizzle out.

There is a much better chance of showers

and thunderstorms Wednesday afternoon.

Robert Shiels WTOL

Marathon Classic Forecast

It's a Toledo tradition like no other...the LPGA Marathon Classic!  Pre-tournament festivities the next couple days will have dry weather.  It will become incredibly hot and humid on Tuesday and Wednesday with highs well into the low 90s.  The Heat Index will surge into the upper 90s for a very steamy mid summer feel.  Come tournament time Thursday, the chance of scattered thunderstorms will be possible and may carry into Friday.  Rain chances will remain scattered, so no major disruptions to play will be expected.

Marathon Classic Forecast

It will turn more comfortable and a little less humid late in the week. The weekend is looking mainly dry with highs in the low and middle 80s.  

~Meteorologist Chris Vickers

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Chance of rain late this evening/tonight

First Alert Doppler

At 7:00 PM isolated showers possible.

Late this evening into the early morning

we are tracking a chance of scattered

showers and rumbles of thunder.

Follow along with us using your

WTOL First Alert Weather App!

Hour-by-Hour Forecast 

8:00 PM:  chance of showers

developing over Indiana.

9:00 PM:  chance of showers

mainly west of I-75

10:00 PM:  chance of showers

moves into the Toledo area.

11:00 PM:  showers may increase in

coverage, lightning/thunder possible.

Midnight:  showers may continue into

the early morning hours.

Once we get through Friday the First Alert

Weather Team is tracking dry weather

from Saturday through at least Tuesday.

Robert Shiels WTOL

Could the next storms head south?

Thursday  6:00 PM

A complex of storms may be

producing severe weather in Illinois.

Thursday  8:00 PM 

A powerful line of storms may be

threatening the Indianapolis area.

Thursday  11:00 PM 

The threat of strong thunderstorms

and heavy downpours may be

moving into Cincinnati.

Friday  3:00 AM 

The best chance of rain here in

northwest Ohio may be late Thursday night.

Once again the word "chance" pops up.

This is just one possibility.

Keep in touch with the First Alert

Weather Team and be prepared to track

stormy weather out to the west Thursday.

We will see if this track to the south verifies.

As always the First Alert forecast will be

updated several times through the day.

First Alert 7-day 

If we miss out on rain the next two days...

The weekend will be cooler and less humid.

Dry weather is likely Saturday through Tuesday.

Robert Shiels WTOL