March 22, 2026, 4:38 p.m. ET
The first weekend of spring is the hottest in more than a century in Cincinnati and elsewhere in Ohio, according to the National Weather Service.
The weather service in Wilmington reported a record high temperature of 86 degrees in Cincinnati on March 22, the hottest temperature recorded for that day. It breaks the old record of 85 degrees set in 1907.
Elsewhere in Ohio, record high temperatures of 85 and 86 degrees were reported in Dayton and Columbus, respectively.
With some few hours of sunlight still to come, it’s possible the temperature could eek out another degree higher for the record.
By nightfall, however, the weather service is looking at the potential for severe weather.
From 7 p.m. to 1 a.m., winds are expected to pick up across Greater Cincinnati alongside isolated storms.
The greatest risk is toward the northern stretches of the region and out toward Dayton and Columbus. There, large hail and isolated damaging winds are possible with this initial activity.
Temperatures are expected to fluctuate with highs in the upper 50s and 60s and with lows in the 30s throughout the week. Frost is not out of the horizon yet, with lows below freezing possible Monday and Friday nights.
Thursday is looking like the next warmest day this week, with partly sunny skies and a high near 79, according to the weather service.
Cincinnati 7-day weather forecast
Sunday afternoon.: Sunny, with a high near 87. Southwest wind around 16 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Sunday night: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 11 p.m., then showers and thunderstorms between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m, then showers and thunderstorms likely between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. Mostly cloudy. Low around 38, with temperatures rising to around 44 overnight. North wind 9 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 54. North wind 8 to 12 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. New rainfall amounts less than a 10th of an inch possible.
Monday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 32. Northeast wind 2 to 8 mph.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 57. East wind around 3 mph.
Tuesday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 68.
Wednesday night: A chance of rain and a slight chance of thunderstorms after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Thursday: A chance of rain and a slight chance of thunderstorms before 2 p.m., then a chance of thunderstorms and a chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 79. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Thursday night: A chance of thunderstorms and a chance of rain before 8 p.m., then rain likely and a chance of thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday: Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday night: A chance of rain before 8 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 28. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 52.
Saturday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 33.
