COLUMBUS – A brief sampling of winter weather arrives in central Ohio Thursday, bringing cold temperatures and a small amount of snow.
Single digit wind chill values were posted early Thursday morning with light snow arriving by afternoon, according to WBNS 10-TV meteorologist Jeff Booth.
The bulk of the snow will fall along and south of I-70 with a dusting to an inch expected in Columbus and 1 to 3 inches of accumulation possible south and southeast of the city. The highest totals will be near the Ohio River.
Road crews pre-treated streets and highways with brine ahead of the storm to prevent icing and aid melting of snow.
Ohio Department of Transportation officials recommend motorists plan a route that avoids steep upgrades and lightly traveled roads where deep snow drifts may form.
Drivers should remove snow from their vehicle’s windows, lights, brake lights, and signals to make sure they can see and be seen while on the road.
Check tires, wiper blades, fluids, lights, belts, and hoses to avoid a breakdown, which can be dangerous on a cold day.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol recommends travelers equip their vehicles with a winter car kit that includes an ice scraper, shovel, jumper cables, flashlight, warning devices, blankets, cell phone charger, first aid kit and tow rope, as well as food and water for longer trips.
Thursday night’s forecast calls for mostly cloudy skies with a low around 14 and less than a half inch of new snow accumulation likely.
Friday will be mostly sunny with a high near 25, according to the National Weather Service.