Columbus, OH – Holiday travelers on Interstate 70 may face sudden snow bursts and rapidly changing road conditions from Saturday, December 7, through Friday, December 13, according to early guidance from the National Weather Service (NWS). Several fast-moving disturbances are expected to sweep through the region during one of the busiest travel windows of the season.
According to the NWS, quick-forming systems tied to the developing Alberta Clipper pattern may affect portions of Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, and western Maryland next week. These disturbances often appear with limited notice and can produce abrupt visibility drops, brief accumulations, and quick pavement icing.
Potential impacts may occur along I-70 between Indianapolis, Richmond, Dayton, Columbus, Zanesville, Wheeling, and onward toward the Hagerstown area near the interstate’s eastern terminus. This corridor includes long stretches of rural highway as well as multiple high-speed segments where sudden weather shifts can catch drivers off guard.
Forecasters note that snowfall totals are not expected to be the primary hazard. Instead, the concern centers on rapid-onset disruptions, especially during early-morning and evening travel periods when holiday traffic volume increases. Bridges, overpasses, and elevated sections may become slick quickly during bursts.
The NWS recommends that holiday drivers closely monitor updated forecast discussions and allow extra travel time along the I-70 corridor throughout the December 7–13 period, as additional disturbances may develop with little advanced warning.
