OHIO — A developing storm system could bring accumulating snow to parts of Ohio late this weekend into early next week, though forecasters say several factors will determine how much, if any, snow falls across the state.
According to AccuWeather meteorologists, a storm currently off the coast of British Columbia is expected to track south across California on Thursday, move through the Rockies on Friday and cross the central United States on Saturday. By Sunday into Monday, the system could affect portions of the Midwest and Northeast.
For Ohio, the main questions center on the storm’s track and the availability of cold air.
AccuWeather noted that a lack of cold air at the time the storm develops could limit snowfall potential. Cold air is critical for snow to reach the ground without melting. While precipitation often begins as snow at higher elevations during winter, surface temperatures must remain cold enough for flakes to survive the trip down.
If the storm tracks farther inland, it could pull warmer air northward into Ohio, leading to rain or a wintry mix instead of widespread snow. However, if colder air is in place and the storm follows a more favorable path, accumulating snow would be more likely.
Forecasters emphasized that confidence in the exact impacts remains low several days out. Even small shifts in the storm’s path could significantly change precipitation types and totals across Ohio.
Before the potential Sunday-to-Monday system arrives, multiple rounds of rain, snow and possibly ice are expected to move across parts of the Midwest this week, which could affect travel conditions at times.
Meteorologists say they will continue refining the forecast over the coming days as the storm moves closer and atmospheric conditions become clearer.
