COLUMBUS, OH – The air feels sharp and silent across central Ohio this Friday morning as temperatures plunge near 18°F, wind chills flirting with single digits. The cold is steady, unrelenting — a prelude to a weekend system expected to bring light snow and slick travel as early winter tightens its grip on the region.
According to the National Weather Service in Wilmington, high pressure keeps skies mostly clear today before clouds return Saturday ahead of an incoming clipper system. That fast-moving disturbance is forecast to spread a 60% chance of snow into the Columbus metro area Sunday, mainly during the morning and midday hours. Accumulations of around one inch, possibly two in higher elevations west of I-71, may cause slippery spots and reduced visibility, particularly along I-70, U.S. 33, and Route 23.
Temperatures Sunday will hover near freezing, ensuring any snow that falls sticks briefly before melting and refreezing by evening. Residents are urged to allow extra travel time, watch shaded roadways, and avoid sudden braking during periods of light snow.
Monday turns partly sunny but bitter again, with highs only in the upper 20s and lows dipping near 12°F. The region’s active early-December weather pattern continues next week with additional rain and snow chances by midweek — part of a larger trend that could persist through mid-December.
Meteorologists note a colder, snowier setup between December 11–17 across the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley — an early alert for travelers planning pre-holiday trips.
How’s your neighborhood handling the chill? Share your Friday morning temperature check or first snow sighting.
Five-Day Forecast for Columbus, OH:
Fri: 31/19 – Partly sunny; bitterly cold.
Sat: 34/27 – Mostly cloudy; flurries late.
Sun: 36/15 – Snow likely; 1–2″ possible.
Mon: 28/12 – Partly sunny; frigid start to week.
Tue: 36/24 – Cloudy; snow chance returns midweek.
