COLUMBUS – The holiday break was extended for an additional day for thousands of central Ohio school children thanks to a weather system that brought a wintry mix of freezing rain and snow, creating treacherous driving conditions Monday morning.
A Winter Weather Advisory was in effect until 2:00 p.m. for rain, snow and freezing rain.
[525 pm] A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect from midnight through 2 pm Monday for a wintry mix of precipitation. This will impact morning commute, so plan accordingly. Keep up to date with the latest forecasts at https://t.co/82d3L0CyfG. pic.twitter.com/hUSV4NO8Nk
— NWS Wilmington OH (@NWSILN) January 7, 2018
Columbus, Hilliard, Dublin, Akron, Dayton and Toledo were among the school districts that kept students home for the day because of the wintry conditions. In southwestern Ohio, many Cincinnati-area schools were delayed or closed, and Miami University in Oxford was opening late.
About 60 Columbus Department of Public Service trucks were in service early Monday morning, spokesman Jeff Ortega said.
Level One snow emergencies were declared in Delaware and Fairfield, Union counties
The high temperature was forecast to reach 37 degrees Monday, according to WBNS 10-TV meteorologist Jeff Booth. He predicted another quick shot of cold weather would arrive overnight, with temperatures dropping back below freezing, and cautioned drivers to be on the lookout for icy spots Tuesday morning.
The wintry weather came as a long stretch of bitterly cold weather came to an end.
The National Weather Service reported that the average temperature in Columbus between Jan. 1 and 6 was the second-coldest on record for those dates.
By the end of the week, the mercury could climb into the 50’s.