Columbus, Ohio – Another round of Arctic air is expected to surge back into Ohio and Pennsylvania during the first full week of February, bringing a prolonged stretch of bitter cold, dangerous wind chills, and a quieter pattern when it comes to widespread snowstorms.
According to the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center, temperatures across the Ohio Valley and interior Mid-Atlantic are favored to run well below normal from Friday through the following Thursday as strong Arctic high pressure builds east. At the same time, precipitation probabilities lean below average, signaling fewer organized winter systems despite the deep cold settling in.
In Ohio, the coldest conditions are expected across northern and central parts of the state, including Cleveland, Toledo, and Columbus, where overnight lows could drop into the single digits or below zero. Wind chills may fall below zero during the morning and overnight hours, especially near Lake Erie. Southern Ohio will also feel the cold, with highs struggling through the teens during the coldest stretch.
Across Pennsylvania, the harshest cold is expected in the northern and western counties, including the Alleghenies and north-central region. Pittsburgh and surrounding areas will see frigid mornings and limited daytime warming, while eastern cities such as Harrisburg and Philadelphia remain well below seasonal norms. While Arctic cold often raises snow concerns, the dominant pattern favors dry air across much of the East Coast, limiting snowstorm potential. Lake-effect snow and fast-moving clippers remain possible but are expected to be limited in coverage.
Residents are urged to prepare for extended cold by protecting pipes, checking heating systems, and limiting prolonged outdoor exposure. Outlooks will continue to be refined as early February approaches, and additional advisories may be issued if the pattern shifts.
