Central and southwest Ohio are bracing for significant snowfall from two incoming weather systems, as the National Weather Service (NWS) forecasts accumulations between 2 to 4 inches tonight and another 2 to 4 inches on Saturday. A winter weather advisory has been issued for much of the region, cautioning residents about potentially hazardous road conditions.
The advisory, which was released on the afternoon of December 11 and encompasses Columbus along with several central Ohio counties—including Franklin, Licking, Preble, Montgomery, Greene, Fayette, Pickaway, Fairfield, and Hocking—will go into effect on Saturday, December 13, and will remain active until the morning of Sunday, December 14. The NWS indicates that areas may see snow accumulations of 3 to 5 inches, which could create challenging travel conditions, particularly in east central Indiana and central and west central Ohio. Residents should also prepare for the possibility of snow beginning overnight and continuing into the early hours of Friday, December 12, with forecasts suggesting some accumulation by 4 a.m.
Given the forecasted snow, the NWS warns that morning commutes on December 12 could be affected, advising individuals in the Columbus area to plan accordingly and leave earlier to ensure a safe journey. This comes following a previous snowstorm that caused traffic delays, multiple accidents, and numerous school closures across central Ohio.
Additionally, the Climate Prediction Center has confirmed that the La Niña weather pattern is expected to persist until February 2026, which typically leads to colder conditions in Ohio. This phenomenon can result in lake-effect snow, particularly in northern parts of the state, as strong winds drive moisture from Lake Erie, potentially leading to heavy localized snowfall. Southern Ohio, while not usually affected by lake-effect snow, can still experience significant cold snaps and occasional snow events when Arctic air collides with storm systems.
In recent reports, AccuWeather has indicated that the polar vortex could further influence Ohio’s winter weather. A surge of frigid Arctic air from northwestern Canada, with temperatures ranging from 20 to 30 degrees below zero Fahrenheit, is expected to move southeast into the United States, impacting temperatures across Ohio as well as Indiana and Kentucky. This extreme cold could arrive in the next several days, bringing a harsh blast of winter conditions before stabilizing to more typical frigid temperatures.
At present, no schools in the Columbus area have announced closures for December 12, but this situation remains fluid and may change as the storm progresses.
Looking ahead to the rest of the week, the weather breakdown in Columbus is as follows:
- Today: A slight chance of snow showers before 11 a.m., mostly cloudy, high near 32 degrees.
- Tonight: Chance of snow after 2 a.m., low around 26 degrees.
- Friday, December 12: Chance of snow mainly after 7 a.m., high near 35 degrees.
- Friday Night: Slight chance of snow before 1 a.m., low around 24 degrees.
- Saturday, December 13: Snow likely after 1 p.m., high near 29 degrees.
- Saturday Night: Snow mainly before 1 a.m., low around 7 degrees.
- Sunday, December 14: Partly sunny, high near 18 degrees.
- Monday, December 15: Partly sunny, high near 23 degrees.
- Tuesday, December 16: Mostly sunny, high near 32 degrees.
- Wednesday, December 17: Chance of rain, mostly cloudy, high near 43 degrees.
Residents in the area are encouraged to prepare for winter weather conditions and stay informed about potential travel disruptions as the storm looms on the horizon.
