Ohio – Thick, milky fog spreads across central Ohio this morning as headlights glow in the haze and wet pavement reflects faint city lights, creating a tense and slow start for early Thanksgiving travelers.
Traffic tightens quickly on I-70, I-71, US-23, and suburban connectors from Grove City to Westerville. Drivers should reduce speed, use low beams, and leave extra room for sudden visibility drops.
According to the National Weather Service Wilmington office, widespread fog lingers through midmorning with pockets of dense fog producing visibility as low as a quarter mile in parts of Franklin, Delaware, Madison, and Pickaway counties. Conditions gradually improve by midday as weak sunshine filters through cloud layers. The stable trend doesn’t last long. Moisture increases Thursday night as a disturbance approaches from the west.
According to ODOT, fog has pooled most heavily near creeks and lowlands south of Columbus, including areas around Lockbourne, Orient, and Groveport. Commuters should anticipate slowdowns on ramps and intersections where moisture clings to chilled road surfaces. Friday brings a more significant travel shift as rain builds across central Ohio. Showers may turn steady by afternoon, complicating airport drop-offs at CMH and slowing traffic along I-270.
To be fair, temperatures remain mild for November, keeping any Winter Weather threat low. Still, a subtle Winter Tease appears early next week as colder air noses into the Midwest. Models hint at a very slight rain-snow mix north of the city late Monday night, though no accumulation is expected. Travelers heading toward Mansfield or Marion should watch for sudden temperature shifts.
The weekend leans quieter with partly sunny skies and classic late-fall chill—ideal for errands, decorating, or prepping for the Thanksgiving surge ahead.
Five-Day Forecast for Columbus, OH:
Sat: 58/38 – Partly sunny; improving travel.
Sun: 57/40 – Mostly sunny; light breeze.
Mon: 59/38 – Mostly cloudy; slight inland mix risk late.
Tue: 54/36 – Partly sunny; cooler push.
Wed: 56/37 – Dry; strong Thanksgiving travel window.
