OHIO — Ohio is entering a stretch of unsettled winter weather that could disrupt travel and force school delays or closures from midweek into Friday.
A pair of systems — a messy wintry mix Wednesday followed by a stronger chance of accumulating snow Thursday night into Friday — are expected to affect much of the state, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
Wednesday: Wintry Mix, Gusty Winds May Lead to Hazardous Morning Travel
The first system arrives Wednesday, bringing a mix of rain and snow early, with precipitation turning to rain during the day before switching back to snow Wednesday night. The NWS in Cleveland warns that even light snowfall could create slippery roads across Northeast Ohio, including the Cleveland, Akron, Canton, Youngstown and Ashtabula areas.
Forecast totals for Ohio are expected to remain on the lighter side — generally 1 to 3 inches depending on location — but the timing could affect buses and commuter traffic.
Complicating conditions further, wind gusts up to 45 mph are possible. Such gusts, combined with bursts of snow, may lead to reduced visibility and rapidly changing roadway conditions.
School districts across Northeast Ohio often wait to make decisions until early morning evaluations of roadways. With precipitation starting before sunrise in some communities, transportation directors may need to consider two-hour delays or closures if untreated roads become slick.
Thursday Into Friday: Another System Could Bring More Significant Snowfall
While Wednesday’s storm brings mainly nuisance impacts, a second system expected Thursday night into Friday may produce more measurable snowfall, this time across a broader portion of Ohio.
Forecast models earlier indicated that several inches of snow could accumulate, particularly across northern and central Ohio, but confidence in exact totals remains low. The potential for widespread snow combined with colder temperatures means roads may become snow-covered Friday morning, raising the likelihood of school impacts to end the week — especially if districts must contend with both the nighttime snowfall and lingering Wednesday weather effects.
Lake-Effect Snow Could Extend Travel Impacts Into the Weekend
Behind both systems, cold air passing over Lake Erie is expected to generate lake-effect snow bands late Thursday into Saturday. The NWS says this could prolong hazardous travel in areas east of Cleveland, including Lake, Geauga, Ashtabula and northern Trumbull counties.
These lake-effect bands can produce localized but intense snow, causing rapid deterioration in travel conditions even after the main system exits.
Northwest Pennsylvania Facing Heavier Snow, Influencing Ohio Border Travel
Although the heaviest snow on Wednesday will fall in northwest Pennsylvania — where a Winter Weather Advisoryremains in effect for 3 to 5 inches — border communities in Ohio such as Conneaut, Ashtabula and parts of Trumbull County may experience spillover effects, especially along Routes 20 and 322 and Interstate 90.
Parents and commuters traveling into Pennsylvania should be prepared for more difficult conditions.
Schools Watching Conditions Closely
Ohio schools commonly close or delay when:
- Snow begins before the morning commute
- Wind gusts cause drifting and low visibility
- Icy conditions develop on rural or untreated roads
- Multiple storms impact several days in a row
With two storms arriving within 48 hours, transportation officials will be monitoring pavement temperatures, radar trends and wind speeds. Districts in rural counties such as Geauga, Portage, Holmes, Ashland, Medina and Wayne may face earlier impacts due to open terrain and greater exposure to blowing snow.
More announcements are expected early Wednesday and again Thursday night into Friday.
Residents Urged to Stay Updated
The National Weather Service encourages Ohioans to follow updated forecasts as conditions may change quickly. Road conditions can be checked at OHGO.com, and weather alerts are posted at weather.gov/cle.
