Tonight: Rain Turns to Snow
Across central Ohio, including Columbus, rain showers are giving way to colder air, with temperatures slipping into the upper 20s by daybreak. Forecasts call for mostly cloudy skies this evening, turning partly cloudy overnight as snow showers develop after midnight, with up to around an inch of accumulation possible and wind gusts pushing near 30 mph early.
Farther north, from Cleveland along the Lake Erie shoreline, colder air is more firmly in place, setting the stage for light snow and freezing drizzle as the night wears on. While totals look light, untreated roads and bridges may become slick as temperatures hover in the upper 20s, and occasional bursts of snow could briefly reduce visibility.
Sunday: Colder, Cloudy, Spotty Snow
Sunday brings a distinctly wintry feel, with most of Ohio locked under mostly cloudy skies and temperatures struggling in the low to mid-30s. In central Ohio, forecasters highlight a cooler day with a few flurries or spotty snow showers, but most communities stay dry with only nuisance-level light snow.
Northeast Ohio, including the Cleveland area, faces a better chance of persistent light snow or snow showers as colder air over the lake feeds scattered bands inland. Daytime readings around the upper 20s to near 30 degrees will keep any fallen snow from melting quickly, maintaining slushy or slick patches in less-traveled areas.
Travel and Safety Concerns
Road conditions will vary dramatically over short distances, especially overnight as rain flips to snow and temperatures dip below freezing. Commuters and late-night drivers should allow extra time, slow down on ramps and bridges, and be alert for black ice where pavements still appear wet.
Winds from the west and northwest, occasionally gusty, will add a bite to the air and could cause blowing snow in open rural areas, briefly lowering visibility. Pedestrians should bundle up against wind chills that fall well below the actual air temperature by early Sunday morning.
Regional Breakdown Across Ohio
– Central Ohio (Columbus and vicinity): Rain this evening transitions to snow showers overnight with lows in the upper 20s and around an inch of new snow possible; Sunday stays mostly cloudy, colder, and breezy with a few flurries and highs in the low 30s.
– Northeast Ohio (Cleveland and lakeshore): Colder, unsettled conditions with light snow or snow showers tonight and Sunday, temperatures near the upper 20s, and locally slick roads under persistent light snow bands.
– Statewide outlook: Over the next couple of weeks January remains colder than average with several snowy days expected across Ohio, reinforcing a wintry pattern already taking hold this weekend.
What Residents Should Do
Residents planning church services, errands, or road trips Sunday should monitor local forecasts and be ready to adjust timing as snow showers come and go. Keeping an ice scraper, extra layers, and a small emergency kit in the car will help manage any unexpected delays caused by slick or snow-covered roads.