Below-freezing temperatures on the way to Columbus this week, forecasters say
A cold front making its way across the central southern United States will bring rain and below-freezing low temperatures to Columbus this week.
The estimated low in Columbus early Wednesday is 34 degrees. On Thursday, the low dips below freezing to 31 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
As of Monday morning, forecasts predict the Columbus area could see 1 to 2 inches of rain Tuesday with the strongest storms occurring between 5 and 7 a.m.
“It’s more of kind of a line coming through. A couple of those storms are going to be severe,” said Katie Martin, a forecaster with the National Weather Service’s Peachtree City office. “Columbus is kind of on the edge between where some heavier rain could fall.”
Temperatures will drop throughout the day from around 60 degrees at 9 a.m. to the upper 40s by 4 or 5 p.m. Tuesday. It’ll be a little windy as well. Wind speeds are expected to reach 15 to 30 miles per hour with the occasional gust over 30, Martin said.
“People will probably start to notice a (temperature) difference… by mid-afternoon,” Martin said. “It will be a bit gusty behind that cold front.”
Low temperatures early Wednesday and Thursday will hover at or below the freezing mark.
Daily forecast
Tuesday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 1 p.m., then a chance of showers. Temperature falling to around 53 by 5 p.m. Southwest wind 10-15 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tuesday night: A 20% chance of showers before 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. North wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 52. Northwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.
Wednesday night: Clear, with a low around 31. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 54.
Thursday night: Partly cloudy with a low around 33.
Friday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55.
Friday night: A 20% chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 41.
Saturday: A 30% chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 57.
Saturday night: A 30% chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41.
Sunday: A 20% chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 62.
This story was originally published December 16, 2019 at 11:08 AM.