Weather service issues hazardous weather outlook for showers and thunderstorms in Northeast Ohio

CLEVELAND, Ohio - If you had outside plans this weekend, it’s time to consider moving them indoors.

Much of Northeast and North Central Ohio has been issued a hazardous weather outlook. The outlook was released by the National Weather Service at 4:18 a.m., warning residents of numerous showers and thunderstorms that will develop Friday afternoon and throughout the evening.

The weather service’s primary concern is heavy rain that could result in water ponding and flooding.

The areas of concern are Ashland, Ashtabula, Crawford, Cuyahoga, Erie, Geauga, Holmes, Knox, Lake, Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Morrow, Portage, Richland, Stark, Summit, Trumbull and Wayne counties.

While the outlook currently only covers Friday afternoon and evening, the forecast through at least Thursday shows consecutive days with consistent rain and multiple chances of thunderstorms.

Cleveland has seen three months in a row of above-average levels of precipitation. For May, the normal amount of precipitation for the month is 3.79 inches.

Federal aid for March tornadoes in Ohio

As northern Ohio prepares to grapple with thunderstorms and floods, western Ohio will receive additional help in recovery efforts in the areas affected by tornadoes on March 14.

Federal Emergency Management Agency announced this week that federal disaster assistance is now available to affected individuals in Auglaize, Crawford, Darke, Delaware, Hancock, Licking, Logan, Mercer, Miami, Richland and Union counties.

Ohio has had 43 tornadoes, according to the National Weather Service.

The FEMA funding includes grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Those who sustained losses in the counties hit by the March tornados can begin applying for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 1-800-621-3362, or by using the FEMA App.

Zachary Smith is the data reporter for cleveland.com. You can reach him at zsmith@cleveland.com.