Get out the shovels, your weekend is about to be snowy.
The National Weather Service in Wilmington has issued a winter storm watch for several counties in central Ohio, including Franklin, Licking, Preble, Montgomery, Greene, Fayette, Pickaway, Fairfield and Hocking.
The advisory issued on the afternoon of December 11, which includes Columbus, goes into effect Saturday, December 13 and lasts until the morning of Sunday, December 14.
The watch says 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.
There is also a chance of snow overnight and into the early morning of Friday, December 12, with the forecast calling for snow after 4am.
The NWS alerted to these weather conditions in an X post on Dec. 11, explaining that “two separate weather systems will bring accumulating snow.”
Will the snow storms affect the December 12th commute in the Columbus area?
The NWS says overnight snow could affect the morning commute on Dec. 12. So it might be a good idea to leave work or school early to give yourself time to get where you’re going safely.
The earlier sizable snowstorm snarled traffic, led to multiple crashes and resulted in more school closings and delays across central Ohio.
La Niña is here to stay for the season
The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) confirmed on December 11 that the La Niña 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 west to northwest winds across Lake Erie can fuel lake-effect snow along the snow belt, impacting cities such as Cleveland, Toledo and Sandusky. If the lake becomes ice-free later in the season, as is expected in milder falls, snow events may be more frequent and intense.
Southern Ohio may not see significant lake effect snow, but the region may still experience colder than average temperatures and occasionally heavy snow when arctic air aligns with storm systems. reflects the classic La Niña influence on the state.
Will the polar vortex affect Ohio?
La Niña isn’t the only weather system influencing winter weather. The polar vortex is expected to affect Ohio. Dropping arctic air and frigid temperatures will affect the entire state, according to AccuWeather. Indiana and Kentucky will also be affected.
“There’s a massive area of air in northwestern Canada where temperatures are 20 to 30 degrees below zero Fahrenheit and it’s moving southeast toward the U.S.,” AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said. “That’s the mother thread of cold air, and it’s a term I don’t use lightly.” Over the next few days, extremely cold air will sweep into the central and eastern US “like a wrecking ball,” Weather Trader meteorologist Ryan Maue said in a post on X on Dec. 9, as USA TODAY reported. Maue called it a “textbook ‘Polar Vortex’ mega-dump of western Canadian cold.”
The cold blast could be short-lived, however. Forecasters expect a return to more typical winter temperatures as the polar vortex retreats back north.
Columbus area school closed due to snow?
Currently, no schools in the Columbus area have announced closures for December 12th. That could change before morning, so continue to monitor the storms on dispatch.com.
Here’s what the weather is like in Columbus for the rest of the week
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Today: A slight chance of snow showers before 11 am Mostly cloudy, with a high near 32 degrees. West wind between 8 and 10 mph. There is a 20% chance of precipitation.
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tonight: Chance of snow, mainly after 2 am Cloudy, with a low around 26 degrees. West wind will blow around 5 mph, which will become calm in the evening. There is a 40% chance of precipitation. A further snow accumulation of less than an inch is possible.
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Friday, December 12: Chance of snow, mainly after 7am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 35. East wind 3 to 6 mph. There is a 50% chance of precipitation. A further snow accumulation of less than an inch is possible.
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friday evening: A light chance of snow before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24 degrees. West wind will blow between 3 and 7 mph. There is a 20% chance of precipitation.
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Saturday, December 13: Snow likely after 1:00 PM Cloudy, with a high near 29 degrees. West wind will blow around 9 mph. There is a 60% chance of precipitation. A further snow accumulation of less than an inch is possible.
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Saturday evening: Snow, mainly before 1 am Lows around 7 degrees. There is an 80% chance of precipitation. Accumulations of 1 to 3 inches of new snow are possible.
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Sunday, December 14: Partly sunny, with a maximum near 18 degrees.
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sunday evening: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 7 degrees.
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Monday, December 15: Partly sunny, with a high near 23 degrees.
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Monday evening: Partly cloudy, with a low around 14 degrees.
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Tuesday, December 16: Mostly sunny, with a high near 32 degrees.
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tuesday evening: Mostly cloudy with lows around 25 degrees.
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Wednesday, December 17: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 43 degrees. There is a 30% chance of precipitation.
USA TODAY Network reporter Brandi D. Addison contributed to this story. Trending reporter Amani Bayo can be reached at abayo@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Winter storm watch issued for Columbus, central Ohio