If you're in the Columbus, Cincinnati, or Wilmington areas, you might want to dig your winter coat back out. According to the National Weather Service in Wilmington, Ohio, we're in for a bit of a weather seesaw. Patchy rains are going to give way to snow as temperatures see a sharp drop following a cold front. So enjoy today's unusually balmy high 40s to low 50s while you can because it's not going to last much longer.
Winds will get themselves noticed today before the weather takes a turn. The National Weather Service anticipates "wind gusts of 25-35 mph" with the northern boundaries of the forecast areas getting the brunt of it. And hey, switch to rain gear by Wednesday morning as rain makes an entrance, shifting to snow in the afternoon which could dicey up your commute, so plan ahead.
As for the snow, the NWS isn't calling for a Winter Wonderland, but they still foresee "accumulating snow potential" Wednesday night into Thursday, with less than an inch for most areas. Despite the small amounts, the snow could pile up quickly because the snow-to-liquid ratio is at a lofty 20:1 - that's weather-speak for fluffy, quickly accumulating snow. And while this might not scream 'snow day,' there may well be enough to make the roads slick.
Looking ahead, you'll want to keep those layers handy, as multiple snow chances are on the horizon for Friday and Saturday. Snowfall amounts for the weekend remain a bit of a question mark, but the word from the weather gurus is to expect it to be a notch above the mid-week flurry. Bundle up, as the cold is sticking around, too, with nighttime lows potentially dipping into the single digits come Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. "Wind chills near or perhaps even below zero degrees" might find their way here as well, per the NWS.
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