Dayton, Ohio — Accumulating snow followed by gusty winds and sharply falling temperatures created hazardous travel across southwest and central Ohio Friday, with impacts intensifying along I-75, I-70, and U.S. 68 through the evening commute.
The National Weather Service in Wilmington said snow developed quickly Friday morning, producing 1 to 3 inches across much of the region before tapering early this afternoon. While snowfall diminishes, conditions worsen again as strong winds develop behind the departing system, blowing snow back onto roadways and rapidly dropping temperatures.
Areas of blowing snow are expected late Friday afternoon into the evening, particularly along north–south corridors such as I-75 from Cincinnati through Dayton and I-70 near Columbus. Reduced visibility and drifting snow make travel difficult even after accumulation ends.
As colder air pours in, wind chills fall below zero late Friday night into Saturday morning. The coldest wind chills range from minus 5 to minus 15 degrees across much of west-central and central Ohio, increasing the risk of frostbite for anyone stranded outdoors.
Impacts extend across Dayton, Cincinnati, Wilmington, Columbus, Springfield, Chillicothe, Logan, Marysville, and Portsmouth. Elevated roadways, bridges, and rural stretches of U.S. 68, U.S. 23, and U.S. 35 ice over quickly as temperatures drop into the teens.
The Ohio Department of Transportation urged drivers to slow down for the evening commute, remain alert for sudden visibility reductions, and avoid overcorrecting in blowing snow. Even treated roads may refreeze as winds strip heat from pavement.
Blowing snow gradually eases overnight, but bitter cold persists into Saturday morning. Temperatures recover only slightly Saturday afternoon, keeping icy patches in place and extending travel risks across southern and central Ohio well into the weekend.
