COLUMBUS, Ohio – Central Ohio’s spring flashback is coming to a bitter end.
The National Weather Service says temperatures will begin turning colder today, changing overnight rain to sleet, freezing rain and eventually snow on Friday.
A Winter Storm Warning for heavy snow has been issued for Franklin, Delaware, Licking, Pickaway, Fairfield, Madison and Union counties (in pink above) from 1:00 a.m. Friday until 1:00 a.m. Saturday. Snow accumulations could amount to 4-6″ with light ice accumulation. (see map).
The National Weather Service is predicting a foot or more of snow in some areas of the Upper Midwest, with freezing rain possible for parts of the Great Lakes.
It’s part of a storm system that has people in the northern Plains already enduring blowing snow and frigid temperatures. The overnight temperature in Denver was a record-low -13. The forecast high in North Dakota Thursday was -6 and will fall to -10 by Saturday.
And to the south, Oklahoma and Arkansas faced a possible ice storm this evening.
AAA Ohio offered up some tips for driving on ice and snow:
Leave early – expect trips to take longer in bad weather.
Keep sufficient distance between vehicles.
Stop gradually. Never slam on the brakes.
When skidding, take your feet off the pedals and keep your eyes focused on where they want to go, instead of on the obstacle they’re trying to avoid.