Break out the shovels, your weekend is about to snow.
The National Weather Service in Wilmington has issued a winter storm watch for several central Ohio counties, including Franklin, Licking, Preble, Montgomery, Greene, Fayette, Pickaway, Fairfield and Hocking.
An advisory issued the afternoon of December 11, which includes Columbus, goes into effect on Saturday, December 13 and lasts until the morning of Sunday, December 14.
Accumulations of 3 to 5 inches are possible and could make travel difficult in parts of east central Indiana and central and west central Ohio.
Snow is likely overnight and Friday morning through the morning of December 12, with some snow forecast after 4am.
The NWS warned of these weather conditions in an X post on December 11, saying, “Two separate weather systems will bring accumulating snow.”
Will the snow storm affect the December 12th commute in the Columbus area?
The NWS says overnight snow could affect the morning commute on Dec. 12. Therefore, it may be a good idea to leave early for work or school to give yourself time to get to where you are going safely.
The previous notable blizzard brought traffic to a standstill, caused multiple accidents and caused many school closings and delays in central Ohio.
La Nina is here to stay for the season
The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) confirmed on December 11 that the La Nina weather pattern will continue to affect weather across the country until February 2026.
In Ohio, La Niña winters mean colder conditions, especially if you live in the northern and eastern parts of the state.
Strong westerly to northwesterly winds across Lake Erie can fuel lake-effect snow in the Snowbelt, affecting cities such as Cleveland, Toledo and Sandusky. If the lake remains ice-free later in the season, snow events may become more frequent and intense, as expected in light fall.
Southern Ohio may not see significant lake-effect snow, but the region can still experience colder-than-average temperatures and sometimes heavy snowfall when arctic air aligns with storm systems. For example, during past La Niña winters, northern Ohio saw several lake-effect snowstorms while southern Ohio saw a few feet fall in just a few days. Cold snaps and scattered snow events — a pattern that reflects the classic La Niña effect in the state.
Will the polar vortex affect Ohio?
La Niña is not the only weather system affecting the winter season. A polar vortex is expected to affect Ohio. Arctic winds and cold temperatures will affect the entire state, according to AccuWeather. Indiana and Kentucky will also be affected.
“There’s a large area of air in northwestern Canada where temperatures are 20 to 30 degrees below zero Fahrenheit, and it’s moving southeast into the U.S.,” AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Reno said. “It’s the mother of cold winds and it’s a word I don’t use lightly.” Over the next few days, extremely cold air will “barrel like a giant ball” across the central and eastern U.S., Weather Trade meteorologist Ryan Maw said in a Dec. 9 post on X, as reported by USA Today. Maw dubbed it a “textbook ‘polar vortex’ mega-dump of western Canadian cold.”
However, cold blasts can be relatively short-lived. Forecasters expect a return to more normal winter temperatures as the polar vortex moves back north.
Columbus area schools closed due to snow?
Currently, no schools in the Columbus area have announced closures for Dec. 12. That could change before dawn, so continue to monitor the storms on dispatch.com.
Here’s a breakdown of the weather for the rest of the week in Columbus
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today: Mostly cloudy before 11 a.m., with a high near 32 degrees and a chance of light snow. West wind 8 to 10 mph. There is a 20% chance of rain.
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tonight: A chance of snow, mainly after 2 a.m., with a low around 26 degrees. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. There is a 40% chance of rain. New snow totals of less than an inch are possible.
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Friday, December 12: A chance of snow, mainly after 7 AM. Mostly cloudy, with a high around 35. East wind 3 to 6 mph. Chance of rain is 50%. New snow totals of less than an inch are possible.
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Friday night: Cloudy with a high around 24 degrees with a chance of light snow before 1am. West wind will blow at a speed of 3 to 7 mph. There is a 20% chance of rain.
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Saturday, December 13: A chance of snow showers after 1 p.m., with a high near 29 degrees. West winds around 9 mph. There is a 60% chance of rain. New snow totals of less than an inch are possible.
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Saturday night: Snow, mainly before 1 pm, low around 7 degrees. There is an 80% chance of rain. 1 to 3 inches of new snow is possible.
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Sunday, December 14: Partly sunny, with a high near 18 degrees.
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Sunday night: Mostly cloudy, low around 7 degrees.
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Monday, December 15: Partly sunny, with a high near 23 degrees.
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Monday night: Partly cloudy, with a low of 14 degrees.
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Tuesday, December 16: Mostly sunny, with a high near 32 degrees.
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Tuesday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25 degrees.
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Wednesday, December 17: Chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 43 degrees. There is a 30% chance of rain.
USA TODAY Network reporter Brandi D. Addison contributed to this story. Trends Reporter Amani Bayo can be reached at abayo@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared in the Columbus Dispatch: Winter storm watch issued for Columbus, central Ohio
