A pale sunrise glows over downtown Columbus, but the air still stings your face. At 29 degrees with mostly cloudy skies, the morning feels cold and quiet, with a few stray flakes possible before 8 a.m.
Ohio starts the day with a slight 20 percent chance of light snow early, then gradual clearing by late morning. According to the National Weather Service in Wilmington, highs climb to 45 degrees this afternoon with light winds. Any brief flurries will be minor, but slick patches may linger on untreated surfaces.
Drivers along I-70, I-71, and Route 315 should stay alert during the early commute. This is prime flash-freeze season. Even light melting today can refreeze quickly after sunset as temperatures fall back to 28 degrees tonight.
Friday delivers a major warmup. Sunshine pushes highs to 57 degrees with gusts near 21 mph. Snow piles shrink fast, and slush may collect near storm drains. Saturday remains mild with highs near 55 under mostly sunny skies.
Changes arrive Saturday night. Rain may develop before 10 p.m., mixing with snow late. Little accumulation is expected at first, but Sunday turns colder with highs near 37. Snow chances increase Sunday night, with a 50 percent probability of accumulating snowfall into early Monday.
Monday stays chilly with highs near 35 and another 30 percent chance of snow. Early next week trends unsettled, but temperatures moderate into the 40s by midweek. Longer-range signals favor above-normal readings heading deeper into early March.
Planning travel this weekend? Watch for late-night slick spots and let us know what you’re seeing on the roads.
Five Day Outlook for Columbus, OH:
Friday: Sunny, high 57.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, high 55.
Sunday: Partly sunny, high 37.
Monday: Chance of snow, high 35.
Tuesday: Chance of rain, high 44.
