Ohio drivers start the morning peering through glowing taillights and low gray haze.
Headlights fade quickly in pockets of dense fog, especially across central and southern Ohio.
According to the National Weather Service in Wilmington, patchy dense fog is reducing visibility to under half a mile in spots early today. The fog is expected to linger through mid-morning before gradually lifting. Travel may be slow at times, particularly on rural roads and near river valleys.
Road surfaces remain mostly dry for now, but the visibility drop alone creates a risk. Drivers should slow down, increase following distance, and use low beams. Sudden fog banks may appear with little warning.
As the fog lifts, milder air settles in. Temperatures climb into the mid to upper 40s today, setting up a relatively calm Christmas period. A few light showers may develop at times, though widespread impacts remain limited through Christmas Day.
Meteorologists are now tracking a change later in the week. A developing system brings increasing rain chances by Friday. While temperatures stay above freezing during the day, wet roads could affect travel timing for those heading out after Christmas.
Saturday appears quieter but still cloudy. Roads may remain damp at times, especially early. No snow or ice is expected locally during this stretch, but the pattern stays active heading into the final days of December.
To be fair, fog often causes more accidents than winter storms. Reduced visibility can be deceptive, especially before sunrise. Plan extra time this morning and remain alert until conditions improve.
This setup fits a broader regional trend. While winter weather intensifies farther north, Ohio sits in a mild, moisture-rich pattern for now. That balance keeps fog and rain in play instead of snow.
5-Day Outlook for Columbus, OH:
- Today: Dense fog early, then partly sunny, high near 46
- Christmas Day: Mostly cloudy, slight shower chance, high near 51
- Thursday: Mostly cloudy, chance of rain, high near 35
- Friday: Rain likely, high near 57
- Saturday: Mostly cloudy, high near 54
