Multiple rounds of storms are expected to move through Northeast Ohio on Saturday, and some of them could turn severe as the day goes on. The Cleveland Metro region is most likely to get hit during the busy afternoon and evening hours, when people are already out for festivals, sporting events and other plans.
That timing is why the search around a tornado warning in Cleveland is climbing now. It is not the whole story, though. Heavy rain is still the biggest concern, and brief downpours could quickly pond on roads and cut visibility for drivers, while the strongest storms may bring damaging wind gusts, lightning, downed tree limbs and isolated power outages.
For Browns fans heading to Huntington Bank Field for the 1 p.m. kickoff, the start of the day should be warm and mostly dry. The rougher weather is expected later Saturday afternoon, when storms become more numerous and some fans could be dealing with lightning, heavy rain and gusty winds by the second half or shortly after the game ends.
There is a catch in the forecast. The biggest threat today is flooding where storms repeatedly track over the same areas, but any warnings issued on Saturday will likely focus on damaging wind gusts. That means the most urgent hazard may not be the one people expect when they hear the word tornado, and it is the same reason one or two waves of storms could cause more trouble than a quick burst of rain.
A cold front will sweep through Northeast Ohio Saturday night and bring a noticeable change by Sunday. Temperatures are expected to drop 5-10 degrees, there should be more dry time than on Saturday, and only an isolated t-shower looks possible. Highs could slip into the low 70s on Monday, with comfortable and dry weather lasting until mid-week before temperatures return to the upper 70s and low 80s and more storm chances return.
For now, the message is simple: Saturday is the day to watch. The storms are timed to the hours when people are most likely to be outside, and the weather may turn quickly enough to affect travel, game traffic and evening plans across the Cleveland Metro region.
