Remnants of Tropical Depression Laura bring severe weather threat to Ohio State
Storm impact expected at Columbus and regional campuses
Hurricane Laura hit the Louisiana coast as a category 4 storm this week, bringing sustained wind gusts of 150 miles per hour, numerous tornadoes and a storm surge of more than 10 feet. Now the massive system is expected to impact the campuses of The Ohio State University.
Today, the storm will be moving across Kentucky and Tennessee, and will eventually move through Virginia and out into the Atlantic. While Laura will not directly affect any Ohio State campuses, she will generate some instability in the atmosphere. That, combined with a line of storms moving across the upper Midwest, will help to increase chances for severe weather in Ohio over the next 24 hours.
There is a chance for rain and thunderstorms at all Ohio State campuses throughout the day today and overnight tonight. All campuses are at risk of experiencing a severe thunderstorm, damaging winds and straight-line winds. Torrential rainfall with localized flooding is also a possibility on all campuses.
According to the Wilmington office of the National Weather Service, Ohio could continue to see severe weather until this system moves east later on Saturday.
While Mansfield, Wooster and Marion are at the greatest risk, Lima, Newark and Columbus should also be prepared for torrential rainfall, damaging winds and a severe thunderstorm with heavy lightning.
Please follow @OSU_EMFP on Twitter or check emergency.osu.edu for any updates.
Students, faculty and staff can monitor the current campus conditions online. The website includes a live weather camera, updated weather conditions and current forecasts.
Ohio State is a Storm Ready University: https://www.weather.gov/StormReady
