Columbus woke up on March 1 to clear skies, a brisk morning in the low 30s, and a light north wind that makes the coffee line feel just a bit longer. Mostly sunny skies hold through the day with a high near 41°F, and a roughly 10 mph breeze keeps things on the crisp side into the afternoon.
Monday Morning Commute: Brief Wintry Mix Possible
That quiet start will not last long. For the Monday, March 2 commute, a passing disturbance is expected to bring a quick hit of snow, sleet, or freezing rain before midday, which could turn shaded roadways slick right when everyone is heading to work and school. Most spots are forecast to see only minor slush, generally under an inch, although a stubborn band of precipitation could leave a little more where it lingers.
From Monday night into Tuesday, the wintry mix should flip over to plain rain, with about a quarter to a half inch possible in many locations. The National Weather Service in Wilmington has the latest on timing and potential travel impacts.
Midweek Warm-Up And Rain
The real pattern change shows up on Tuesday, March 3, when highs jump to around 54°F and steady rain settles in. Forecast guidance points to additional rounds of rain on Wednesday and Thursday as temperatures climb into the 60s, with lower 70s on the table by Friday, March 6.
Rainfall on Tuesday and Tuesday night alone could total roughly a half to three-quarters of an inch, and with multiple systems lined up, locally heavy downpours become more likely. That raises the risk of minor urban flooding in low-lying and poorly drained areas, even as the air starts to feel more like early spring than late winter.
How To Plan Your Week
If you are out early on Monday, give yourself extra time and treat bridges, overpasses, and shaded ramps as problem spots where slush or a thin glaze could linger. After Monday, trading in heavier winter layers for a reliable waterproof jacket is probably the smarter move, and it is worth double-checking outdoor plans from Tuesday through Friday when conditions turn wetter but much warmer.
We broke down the late February cold snap in our earlier cold snap report on Feb. 6, and this upcoming stretch marks a clear shift from that recent chill toward a milder, wetter setup.
As always with fast-changing late-winter weather, keep an eye on updated forecasts, check road conditions before heading out, and follow local alerts through the week in case timing or precipitation type shifts.
