Residents in and around the Columbus and Cincinnati areas should brace for a wintry mix to cap off the workweek, as the National Weather Service (NWS) in Wilmington OH, has rolled out its latest forecasts. According to NWS updates from Thursday morning, a clipper system is poised to skate across the eastern Great Lakes come Friday, bringing with it a blanket of snow.
Reporting some revisions, the NWS noted, "Made some minor adjustments to snow totals on Friday." The expected snowfall, estimated at 1 to 2 inches for Central Ohio and an inch or less for surrounding locales, could define the region’s transition into a chilly weekend. Fickle weather could mean a flurry of light snow showers on Thursday night, escalating into more widespread precipitation by Friday morning.
Yet as the snowflakes settle, so will a sharp cold snap, with temps expected to plummet through the weekend. The forecast says to look out for highs ranging from the mid-teens in the north to the low 20s in the south come Saturday. For those daring enough to venture into the Friday and Saturday night freeze, digits are projected to dip into single figures, while wind chills could register anywhere from zero to an unyielding 15 below early Saturday.
But just as the cold rears its icy head, any ensuing shivers should be short-lived, according to the NWS forecast which states, "Temperatures will then moderate heading into next week with highs near or slightly above normal through mid week." Aviation-wise, pilots and passengers alike may encounter some bumpy skies, with the report hinting at transient morning fog and an imminent descent of MVFR/IFR conditions and snow by Friday dawn.
If there’s any solace for Ohioans navigating this frosty front, it's that no advisories, watches, or warnings have been hoisted by the NWS as of yet. You can keep tabs on the evolving weather situation by checking updates here.
