Dayton, Ohio — Cold temperatures are settling across southwest and central Ohio early Sunday, with readings falling to 32 to 35 degrees between 2 a.m. and 8 a.m., allowing frost to form and create slick spots on bridges and untreated roads in Dayton, Cincinnati, Columbus and Springfield.
According to the National Weather Service in Wilmington, the frost advisory covers much of the region through mid-morning Sunday, with the coldest pockets developing before sunrise in low-lying areas where temperatures briefly dip to freezing.
The chill is part of a broader system bringing below-normal temperatures across the eastern United States into mid-May, increasing the risk of repeated overnight frost even as daytime highs recover into the 60s.
Frost will develop quickly on exposed surfaces, especially on elevated roadways like I-71 and I-75 and in rural valleys near Wilmington and Xenia, where cold air settles and moisture condenses, reducing tire traction during the early commute.
Sensitive plants may suffer damage after several hours near freezing, and early outdoor workers face cold exposure during peak frost formation.
Drivers should slow down on bridges and shaded roads where frost can form first, while residents should cover or bring in vulnerable vegetation.
The most significant frost impacts will occur between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m. Sunday, when temperatures hover near or just below freezing across the region.
