Enjoy the warmth while it lasts. Ohio is getting a picture-perfect fall Sunday with abundant sunshine and highs in the low to mid-70s, but a much cooler pattern is set to settle in for the work week — and frost is on the table for parts of the state.
Columbus should top out near 75 degrees under sunny skies today, with similar readings in Cincinnati and Dayton and upper 60s to near 70 across northern Ohio, including Cleveland and Toledo. Tonight stays clear, with lows in the mid-40s to around 50. Monday brings more sunshine but cooler air, with highs in the 60s.
The real chill arrives midweek. Tuesday’s highs will struggle to reach the low 60s, and overnight lows will dip into the upper 30s and 40s across much of the state. Shelter spots and low-lying areas in northern and central Ohio could see temperatures flirt with freezing by Wednesday morning, bringing the first real frost threat of the season to some communities.
Gardeners with tender plants may want to cover them or bring potted plants inside for the coldest nights. Pet owners should make sure outdoor animals have warm shelter. Anyone who still has the air conditioning running through this warm weekend will likely be switching to heat before the week is out.
The cool stretch looks dry, with rain chances staying low through at least the middle of the week. After Tuesday’s chill, highs should moderate slightly into the 60s again by midweek, but the days of widespread 70s appear to be on pause for now. Fall is officially asserting itself across the Buckeye State — time to dig out the jackets and hoodies.