Ohio starts the morning locked in deep winter, with breath freezing fast and streets eerily quiet across the Cincinnati region. The cold is not just uncomfortable; it is dangerous, and conditions remain serious through the first half of the day.
An Extreme Cold Warning remains in effect through midday, with a Cold Weather Advisory continuing into Wednesday. According to the National Weather Service, wind chills have dropped as low as 25 degrees below zero across parts of southwest Ohio. At Lunken Field, temperatures sit near 1 degree below zero, while even light winds drive wind chills into life-threatening territory.
Exposure is the primary risk. Frostbite can develop on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. Anyone heading out should cover all skin, including face and hands. Pets should remain indoors, and outdoor animals need shelter, food, and unfrozen water.
Travel conditions may look deceptively calm, but icy patches remain possible, especially on bridges and untreated roads. Any melting from sunshine later today will refreeze quickly after sunset, raising the risk of flash freezing during the evening commute. Drivers should slow down and allow extra stopping distance.
Snow chances remain limited, though a brief window for patchy snow showers and blowing snow develops late this morning into early afternoon. Gusts could briefly reduce visibility on exposed stretches of I-71, I-75, and surface roads.
As the sun sets, the cold tightens again. Tonight turns mostly clear with lows near 6 below zero. Wind chills remain well below zero. Wednesday brings sunshine, but little relief, with highs near 18. Thursday and Friday stay cold but quieter, with highs near the upper teens before a gradual warming trend begins over the weekend.
Looking ahead, longer-range outlooks suggest below-normal precipitation across Ohio into early February, while cold air slowly retreats east.
Limit outdoor time, check on neighbors, and take cold warnings seriously. How cold did it feel in your neighborhood this morning?
Five-Day Outlook for Cincinnati, Ohio
• Today: Extreme cold, slight snow chance, high near 24
• Wednesday: Mostly sunny, high near 18
• Thursday: Partly sunny, high near 19
• Friday: Partly sunny, high near 14
• Saturday: Partly sunny, high near 14
