Columbus, OH – The Ohio Valley is bracing for a sharp blast of Arctic air from December 12 through December 16, with temperatures expected to plunge far below normal across Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and West Virginia, according to the National Weather Service in St. Louis.
Meteorologists say there is a 60–80% probability of below-normal temperatures, marking what could be the coldest air mass of the season. Highs are projected to remain in the 20s and low 30s, while overnight lows could dip into the teens. Factoring in gusty northwest winds, wind chills may fall near or below zero at times.
The NWS urges residents to bundle up, check on elderly neighbors, and bring pets indoors during the cold snap. Exposure to extreme cold can lead to frostbite or hypothermia within minutes.
While forecasters are confident in the arrival of bitter cold, exact temperature values remain uncertain. A gradual warm-up is expected later in the week as the Arctic air retreats northward.
