Columbus, OH – Ohio travelers may face a wetter and potentially wintry stretch during the busy Thanksgiving travel period, as new long-range federal outlooks point to above-normal precipitation across much of the state between November 23 and November 29.
According to the Climate Prediction Center’s 8–14 Day Outlook, released Saturday, a 40–50% probability zone for above-normal precipitation cuts directly through Ohio. Northern Ohio, including Cleveland and Toledo, sits closest to the higher-confidence region tied to colder air and a more active storm pattern from the Midwest into the Great Lakes. Southern Ohio, including Cincinnati, remains in the above-normal category as well, though with slightly warmer temperatures that may favor rain over snow at times.
Columbus and central Ohio fall near the dividing line, where small temperature shifts could determine whether precipitation arrives as cold rain, mixed precipitation, or periods of wet snow. While it is too early to outline specific totals or storm tracks, the pattern historically supports travel disruptions when moisture and marginal temperatures overlap.
The timing aligns with some of the busiest travel days of the year. Motorists heading north toward Toledo or Cleveland could encounter more favorable conditions for early-season snowfall if colder air deepens across the Great Lakes. Air travelers may also experience delays if the emerging storm track affects regional hubs in Detroit, Chicago, or Pittsburgh.
Forecasters emphasize that while confidence is growing in a wetter-than-normal pattern, snowfall accumulation potential will become clearer as short-range models begin capturing individual systems early next week. Travelers are encouraged to monitor daily updates as the Thanksgiving window approaches.
