SPC Mesoanalysis shows > 3500 SBCAPE and > 30 kts of bulk shear. Are we just failing to get a reliable lifting mechanism? That little boundary that passed through seemed to act as one, but the cells still had trouble surviving.
I'd argue the lack of upper air divergence is one of the main culprits today. That could've helped initiate many more cells in this thermodynamic environment. Looking at the 300mb analysis on SPC Mesoanalysis...and the locations of those magenta regions are telling.
71 F on NAM / 61 F on HRRR...that's a pretty large difference. Even if we land somewhere in the middle, that might be enough though. I also wonder if the bust over central Ohio will reduce the amount of cloud cover the region receives tomorrow.
The wind field is great. Instability could be hit or miss depending on the cloud cover. While some of the hodos look tornado conducive, I think the storm mode will be predominantly linear, limiting any major tornado threat.