COLUMBUS, Ohio — With heavy rain and flooding concerns throughout the state this weekend, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel held a press conference today to discuss the incoming impactful weather.

“Our experts tell us that they expect continued heavy rainfall throughout the state, on and off, all this weekend,” DeWine said.

While nearly all of Ohio is under a Flood Watch heading into the weekend, the southernmost portion of the state is under a Flood Warning.

“We have observed from the air and on the ground, that our ground is really saturated here in Ohio. Our biggest concern right now, particularly for the southern half of Ohio, is flooding and flash flooding. The storm has already dumped a lot of rain all over the state since Wednesday.”

DeWine said officials have already seen localized flooding and swollen rivers and tributaries across the state. More than 70 roads are currently closed. 

The governor said the state is expecting “moderate” flooding on par with what was seen last seen in Ohio in 2021. Officials are not anticipating record levels of flooding. 

“We expect more roads to flood over, more water in businesses and basements, and more low-lying areas will also flood,” DeWine said.

Speaking of the dangers of flash flooding, Tressel implored Ohioans to get to higher ground immediately and “never drive, walk or wade through flood water.” 

“Don’t try to get around barriers that have been put up, because the barriers have been put up for a reason — that there’s danger behind them,” Tressel said. “Listen closely to what public officials are telling us. They have the most up-to-date information, and it’s impressive to watch just how close they can be to exactly what the situation is on the ground … If you are under a Flood Warning, seek shelter immediately.” 

Ohio Emergency Management Agency Director Sima Merrick, recommended carrying a “to-go bag” with essential items like batteries, a flashlight and medications, especially for those in high risk areas. 

“And in particular, you want to make sure you have those medications for a couple days, and you also are thinking about your pets,” Merrick said. “Take your pets along with you. Please bring them in out of the risk areas.”

3News has activated a Weather Impact Alert for our area from Saturday into early Sunday.

“Bulk of the rain, I am still expecting to move in tonight into the early morning hours on Saturday,” says 3News Senior Meteorologist Matt Wintz. “It could get loud tonight.”

In addition to the heavy rain, Wintz says this is a warm front that could include hail, lightning and loud thunder.

“This wave of rainfall moves out Saturday morning,” Wintz says. “After it moves out we should have a several-hour period of some drier weather.”

This is your chance to get outside.

“It’s going to be nice and warm and kind of humid tomorrow morning as well, so this is a good time to run errands, get outside. We’ll be in the 60s, but it won’t last long because temperatures are going to start to come down and that rain will return.”

RELATED: FORECAST | See the extended 10-day weather outlook in Northeast Ohio

Wintz says the forecast shows temps will dip to the 40s from north to south throughout Saturday afternoon as colder air and a wind shift take over.

Then… The rain returns.

“We’re all rainy around here Saturday evening into Saturday night,” Wintz says. “Not expecting it to be quite as heavy as that initial batch tonight and tomorrow morning, but it’s still going to pile up in terms of the rain fall.”

Sunday will feature leftover rain showers — and maybe a snowflake mixed in — as much colder air moves in.

So when it’s all said and done, how much rain are we expecting here in Northeast Ohio?

“Well, numbers have backed off a little bit,” Wintz says. “That’s good news. Bad news is we’re still in the 1-3 inch range. That’s a lot of rain, and it’s over all of northern Ohio.

And as we look even further ahead at the extended forecast, Wintz says we could have heavy snow Monday night into early Tuesday.

“That Tuesday morning commute, we need to keep a close eye on depending on the track of this low,” Wintz says.