The National Weather Service in Wilmington, Ohio, has issued a series of advisories and warnings for a swath of the state, covering everything from Columbus to Cincinnati and extending into parts of Kentucky and Indiana. If you're in these areas, buckle up for some intense winter weather heading your way.
The first order of business is the Cold Weather Advisory, which is in full effect until noon EST Saturday for most of the region. According to the NWS advisory, residents should fully prepare to face single-digit lows tonight, with Saturday barely crawling into the teens. With northwest winds chugging along at 10 to 15 mph, you're looking at wind chills that will recklessly dip below zero at times.
The bigger headline, though, is the Winter Storm Warning that kicks in from 10 AM Saturday to noon EST Monday. This isn't just a dusting we're talking about – NWS is predicting "heavy accumulations of snowfall," with the resulting mess on the roads expected to snarl travel well into Monday. If you've got places to be this weekend, you might want to start reconsidering your plans.
The storm is shaping up to be a one-two punch. Round one sprinkles an initial snowy layer on Saturday, tempered by somewhat weaker forcing. However, Sunday morning's follow-up promises to bring the main event, with potential for significant travel disruptions as several inches – or more – of snow could blanket the area. For folks southeast of I-71, expect the weather to throw a bit of a curveball with "mixed precipitation" coming into play, including some sleet and the unloved freezing rain, especially near the Ohio River. NWS warns this could significantly reduce snow totals, thanks to that pesky warm nose aloft playing around at 850 hPa. But make no mistake, "significant winter storm impacts are expected on Sunday," with tough cleanup extending into early next week amid the chill.
To round it all off, colder-than-usual temperatures are going to cling on through the following week. We're looking at mercury levels that could barely crawl near zero, and wind chills could make it feel like a bone-rattling -10F to -20F come Tuesday morning. So, after this winter storm wallops the region, don't expect any quick thaw to bail you out. It's winter, and it seems it's here to stay – at least for the foreseeable week ahead.
