Active winter weather pattern expected from Rockies to the Midwest
More bursts of cold air and snow are in store for millions of Americans over the coming week.
- Central and southwest Ohio are expecting accumulating snow from two separate weather systems this week.
- The National Weather Service predicts 2 to 4 inches of snow tonight and another 2 to 4 inches on Saturday.
- A winter weather advisory is in effect for much of the region, warning of hazardous road conditions.
Break out the shovels, your weekend’s about to get snowy.
The National Weather Service in Wilmington has issued a winter storm watch for several central Ohio counties, including Franklin, Licking, Preble, Montgomery, Greene, Fayette, Pickaway, Fairfield and Hocking.
The advisory issued the afternoon of Dec. 11, which includes Columbus, goes into effect Saturday, Dec. 13 and runs until the morning of Sunday, Dec. 14.
The watch says that accumulation of 3 to 5 inches is possible and could make travel difficult in parts of east central Indiana and central and west central Ohio.
There is also a chance of snow overnight and into the early morning of Friday, Dec. 12, with the forecast calling for some snow after 4 a.m.
NWS alerted these weather conditions in an X post on Dec. 11, explaining “two separate weather systems will bring accumulating snow.”
Will snowstorms impact Dec. 12 commute in Columbus area?
The NWS says the overnight snow could affect the Dec. 12 morning commute. So, it might be a good idea to leave early for work or school to give yourself time to get to where you’re going safely.
The previous considerable snowstorm snarled traffic, resulted in multiple crashes and led to several school closings and delays across central Ohio.
La Niña is here to stay for the season
The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) confirmed on Dec. 11 that the La Niña weather pattern would continue to impact weather across the country until February 2026.
In Ohio, La Niña winters mean colder conditions, especially if you live in the northern and eastern parts of the state.
The strong westerly to northwesterly winds crossing Lake Erie can fuel lake-effect snow along the snowbelt, impacting cities such as Cleveland, Toledo, and Sandusky. If the lake remains ice-free later into the season, as is expected in milder falls, snow events can be more frequent and intense.
Southern Ohio may not see significant lake-effect snow, but the region can still experience colder-than-average temperatures and occasional heavy snowfall when Arctic air aligns with storm systems.For example, during past La Niña winters, northern Ohio has seen multiple lake-effect snowstorms dropping several feet of snow in just a few days, while southern Ohio experienced sharp cold snaps and scattered snow events — a pattern that reflects the classic La Niña influence on the state.
Will the polar vortex affect Ohio?
La Niña isn’t the only weather system influencing winter weather. The polar vortex is expected to impact Ohio. Dipping Arctic air and frigid temperatures will hit the entire state, according to AccuWeather. Indiana and Kentucky will also be affected.
“There is a massive area of air in northwestern Canada where temperatures are 20 to 30 degrees below zero Fahrenheit, and it is on its way southeastward into the U.S.,” AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said. “This is the mother lode of cold air and is a term I don’t use lightly.”Over the next few days, extreme cold air will barrel into the central and eastern U.S. “like a wrecking ball,” said Weather Trader meteorologist Ryan Maue in a post on X on Dec. 9, as reported by USA TODAY. Maue dubbed it a “textbook ‘Polar Vortex’ mega-dump of western Canadian cold.”
The cold blast could be relatively short-lived, however. Forecasts expect a return to more typical wintry temperatures as the polar vortex retreats back to the north.
Are Columbus-area school closed due to snow?
Currently, no schools in the Columbus area have announced closures for Dec. 12. That could change before the morning, so continue monitoring the storms at dispatch.com.
Here’s the weather breakdown in Columbus for the rest of the week
- Today: A slight chance of snow showers before 11 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 32 degrees. There will be west wind 8 to 10 mph. There is a 20% chance of precipitation.
- Tonight: A chance of snow, mainly after 2 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 26 degrees. There will be west wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. There is a 40% chance of precipitation. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
- Friday, Dec. 12: A chance of snow, mainly after 7am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 35. East wind 3 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
- Friday night: A slight chance of snow before 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24 degrees. There will be west wind 3 to 7 mph. There is a 20% chance of precipitation.
- Saturday, Dec. 13: Snow likely after 1 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 29 degrees. There will be west wind around 9 mph. There is a 60% chance of precipitation. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
- Saturday night: Snow, mainly before 1 a.m. Low around 7 degrees. There is an 80% chance of precipitation. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
- Sunday, Dec. 14: Partly sunny, with a high near 18 degrees.
- Sunday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 7 degrees.
- Monday, Dec. 15: Partly sunny, with a high near 23 degrees.
- Monday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 14 degrees.
- Tuesday, Dec. 16: Mostly sunny, with a high near 32 degrees.
- Tuesday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25 degrees.
- Wednesday, Dec. 17: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 43 degrees. There is a 30% chance of precipitation.
USA TODAY Network reporter Brandi D. Addison contributed to this story. Trending reporter Amani Bayo can be reached at [email protected].
