Cincinnati witnessed its first significant snowstorm of the season, shattering a nearly century-old record with up to 5.5 inches of snow reported in some areas today. The wintry weather brought with it a host of challenges, including school closures, traffic disruptions, and declarations of snow emergencies in several counties. The Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport recorded snowfall of 4.3 inches, breaking the previous record for today set in 1929 at 2.2 inches, according to WLWT.
Snow emergencies varied across the region. While Hamilton County initially declared a Level 2 emergency, it was later lifted, as was the Level 1 emergency in Butler County. Warren County continued to be under a Level 1 emergency, with Boone and Kenton counties following suit, Cincinnati.com reported. A Level 2 emergency indicates that roads may be closed due to hazardous conditions, and travel is discouraged unless necessary.
The snow started falling late Monday night and continued today, leading to the closure of several major school districts in Ohio and Northern Kentucky, including Cincinnati Public Schools and Lakota Local Schools. In addition, all campuses of the University of Cincinnati were closed with plans to reopen tomorrow, as mentioned in an alert shared by the school. Area residents experienced major inconveniences as road crews worked tirelessly to clear the snow-packed streets, but with temperatures staying around a frigid 31 degrees, the snow was expected to linger.
Amidst the winter chaos, stunning visuals from across the Tri-State area captured the full extent of the snowfall. A gallery of images was shared by FOX19, showcasing the blanket of snow covering neighborhoods, offering a momentary glimpse of calm amid the storm's disruptions. A variety of snowfall totals were reported, with Mason and Lebanon, OH, both receiving 5.5 inches, while other locales like Florence, KY, and Hebron, KY, saw 4.5 inches.
Travel remained treacherous with reports of crashes along interstates 71 and 75—though not all lanes were affected. Residents were encouraged to keep up with the latest updates from the Ohio Department of Transportation regarding road conditions and closures.
