Wilmington, OH – A surge of bitterly cold air will settle over southwest and central Ohio tonight, bringing wind chills near zero and a sharp drop in temperatures into early Friday morning, according to the US National Weather Service in Wilmington.
Forecasters say light snow showers and areas of fog will clear after sunrise Thursday, but frigid air will move in behind the departing system. Overnight lows are expected to dip into the upper single digits and low teens, with wind chills hovering around zero to five below by daybreak Friday.
The coldest conditions are expected across Dayton, Lima, and west-central Ohio, where north winds will continue to draw in Arctic air through the night. Residents are urged to bundle up in layers and limit time outdoors, as even brief exposure can cause frostbite in these temperatures.
Friday will stay cold but mostly sunny, with highs rebounding slightly into the mid-20s to near 30°F by afternoon. Warmer conditions are expected over the weekend, though another shot of cold air may return next week.
