Warmer temperatures and another chance of precipitation will return Thursday as Cincinnati officials begin flood cleanup efforts.
Widespread rain will shift east on Thursday. Thunderstorms may develop Thursday afternoon and evening. Isolated severe storms could produce large hail and damaging winds.
Temperatures will lift from the lower to mid-50s in the north to the lower and mid-60s in the south.
Isolated to scattered showers and storms will decrease Thursday evening. But some lingering rain showers may occur through the night across the far south. A few lingering showers may remain on Friday in the southeast with considerable cloudiness across the area.
Expect cool temperatures ranging from the upper 40s to the lower 50s.
The weekend will generally be warm and dry, with temperatures peaking Sunday night into Monday. Sunny skies will let Saturday’s highs rise to the mid-50s. Highs on Sunday are forecast to be in the low 60s.
The next chance for rain showers will occur on Monday. Temperatures will be in the mid-70s.
Cleanup efforts begin Thursday as flood waters recede
The Ohio River at Cincinnati crested at 60.79 feet Monday evening, according to the National Water Prediction Service. The last time the river reached this height was in 1997, when it crested at 64.7 feet.
The flooding left Smale Riverfront Park underwater, while high levels encroached Paycor Stadium and Great American Ball Park. Severe weather led to landslides in Mount Adams and Mount Auburn. Significant flooding occurred in East End and California.
River levels are expected to drop to 57 feet by Thursday morning. The river is expected to fall below the flood stage of 52 feet by early Friday morning and will continue falling.
Officials said cleanup efforts will begin Thursday and “last well into next week,” if not later, according to a release from the city. A timeline will be determined as waters recede and crews can better assess the severity of the damage.
The Department of Public Services will conduct these efforts, assessing damage to roads, bridges, utilities and facilities. Once the assessment is complete, department crews will shift to repair and restoration efforts.
As for residential areas, Department of Buildings & Inspections staff will go door to door to inspect properties in affected neighborhoods beginning Friday. The department identified approximately 700 addresses that may have been impacted. These are in the Central Business District, East End, California and Riverside neighborhoods.
The Department of Transportation & Engineering will reinstall equipment that controls traffic lights at Mehring Way on Thursday and along Kellogg Avenue on Friday. If traffic lights are not operational, officials ask drivers to treat the intersection as a four-way stop.
The Stormwater Management Utility will also begin removing flood gates in the coming days.
Detailed 7-day Cincinnati weather forecast
Thursday: Showers likely before 11 a.m., then a slight chance of showers after 3 p.m. Cloudy through mid-morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 63. South wind 6 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon. The chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch are possible.
Thursday night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Increasing clouds, with a low of around 40. Light north wind. The chance of precipitation is 20%.
Friday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 51. North wind 6 to 11 mph.
Friday night: Areas of frost after 4 a.m. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low of around 33. North wind 3 to 7 mph.
Saturday: Areas of frost before 10 a.m. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 58. North wind 5 to 7 mph.
Saturday night: Mostly clear, with a low of around 36.
Sunday: Patchy frost before 7 a.m. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 65.
Monday: A chance of showers after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 74. The chance of precipitation is 30%.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 61.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 59.
Source: National Weather Service Office, Wilmington.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati weather updates: Storms possible as flood cleanup begins