COLUMBUS, Ohio – The big chill keeps getting bigger – and chillier – in central Ohio.
Wind Chill Warning Noon Monday through 10:00 a.m. Wednesday.
Forecasters say temperatures will plummet into the single digits, with gusty winds making it feel like 35-below zero while causing blowing snow.
Columbus City Schools will be closed and classes are canceled at OSU.
Columbus Recreation and Parks’ community facilities are open to the public as warming centers during regular hours:
Dodge, 667 Sullivant Ave.
Gillie, 4625 Morse Centre
Martin Janis, 600 E. 11th Ave
Lazelle Woods, 8140 Sancus
Marion Franklin, 2801 Lockbourne
Whetstone, 3923 N. High Street
Seniors who require additional assistance are encouraged to contact the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging at 614-645-7250 or Life Care Alliance at 614-278-3130.
Schools are closing and emergency agencies are urging Ohioans to heed safety warnings as another deep freeze blows across the state.
Click here for travel safety tips.
The National Weather Service warned of wind gusts reaching 35 to 45 mph, with blowing and drifting snow around the state and blizzard conditions in some rural areas.
Paulding and Williams counties in far northwest Ohio were under snow emergencies closing roads to everyone except emergency workers. Dozens more counties were under lower-level snow emergencies warning of hazardous roads and to avoid driving if possible.
Level 1 snow emergencies (Hazardous conditions) – Licking, Madison, Pickaway, Union counties
Level 2 snow emergencies (Unnecessary travel discouraged): Delaware, Fairfield counties
The Columbus City Schools and major suburban districts remained open, but schools were closed in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo and Akron.
Gov. John Kasich urged the Ohio General Assembly and Ohio Department of Education to work together on a one-time increase in the number of “calamity” days that schools can take off because of bad weather. Schools are currently allowed five calamity days per school year and many districts have used them up due to extreme the cold weather.
The Arctic cold, wind and fresh snow are teaming up to make driving difficult.
Ohio Department of Transportation officials say 125 plows rolled all night Sunday, plowing back blowing snow and treating interstates, state routes and U.S. routes. Crews paid special attention to ramps and bridges, which are more prone to freezing ODOT spokeswoman Breanna Badanes said.
More than 60 City of Columbus trucks began treating and plowing collector streets and began to plow residential streets Monday morning, Public Service Department spokesman Rick Tilton said.
Forecasters expect temperatures from Minnesota to Kentucky to plummet today and remain cold for about 2 ½ days.