**Central Ohio Snow Emergencies and School Closures: What to Expect as Winter Storm Hits**

 

Columbus and central Ohio are preparing for a winter storm that could bring over six inches of snow overnight Sunday into Monday. We will continue to provide updates here.

Snow Accumulation in Franklin CountyBy 8:00 p.m. Sunday, the Ohio Department of Transportation shared a photo on X (formerly Twitter) showing snow beginning to accumulate in Franklin County.

Which Ohio Counties Are Under Snow Emergencies?Under Ohio law, county sheriffs can declare snow emergencies, which may result in the closure of municipal, state, county, and township roads. Currently, several counties, including Fairfield and Pickaway in central Ohio, have declared snow emergencies. Here’s a breakdown of the affected counties and their snow emergency levels:

Central Ohio:

• Franklin County (Columbus): Level 1
• Fairfield County (Lancaster): Level 2
• Licking County (Newark): Level 1
• Madison County (London): Level 1
• Pickaway County (Circleville): Level 1

Other Ohio Counties:

• Adams County (West Union): Level 3
• Athens County (Athens): Level 2
• Clark County (Springfield): Level 2
• Fayette County (Washington Court House): Level 2
• Guernsey County (Cambridge): Level 1
• Hocking County (Logan): Level 2
• Jackson County (Jackson): Level 3
• Morgan County (McConnellsville): Level 2
• Muskingum County (Zanesville): Level 2
• Perry County (New Lexington): Level 1
• Pike County (Waverly): Level 3
• Ross County (Chillicothe): Level 3
• Scioto County (Portsmouth): Level 3
• Vinton County (McArthur): Level 3

Snow Emergency Levels Explained:

• Level 1: Roads are hazardous with blowing and drifting snow and may be icy. Drivers should proceed with caution.
• Level 2: Roads are more hazardous, with significant snow and ice. Only those who absolutely need to be on the roads should travel.
• Level 3: All roads are closed to non-emergency vehicles. Only essential travel is allowed, and violators may face arrest. Employees should check with their employers regarding work schedules.

School Closures in Columbus: Most schools are expected to return from winter break on Monday, though the storm may impact start times or cause delays. Superintendents will decide on closures or delays based on road conditions. As of Sunday evening, several districts have already canceled school for Monday due to the forecasted snowfall, including:

• Amanda-Clearcreek Local Schools
• Berne Union Local Schools
• Bloom-Carroll Local Schools
• Canal Winchester Local Schools
• Fairfield Union Local Schools
• Jonathan Alder Local Schools
• Lancaster City Schools
• Logan Elm Local Schools
• London City Schools
• Madison-Plains Local Schools
• Miami Trace Local Schools
• Pickerington Local Schools
• Teays Valley Local Schools
• Walnut Township Local Schools

Several districts, including Bexley, Delaware City, Dublin, Grandview Heights, and Upper Arlington, will have teacher in-service days but no classes. Students in those districts are scheduled to return on Tuesday.

Ohio State University and Columbus State Community College have canceled in-person classes for Monday.

Power Outages in Columbus: To track power outages, AEP Ohio offers an online map for customers in the area. The City of Columbus provides an outage map for customers of the Columbus Division of Power.

Winter Road Closures in Columbus: For updates on road closures, check the Ohio Department of Transportation's live road map (OHGO) and popular navigation apps like Waze, Apple Maps, and Google Maps.

Snowfall Records for January 5 and 6: The record snowfall for January 5 in Columbus is 2.5 inches, set in 2003. If the forecast of 3-5 inches of snow is correct, this record could be broken.

The record snowfall for January 6 stands at 11.9 inches, set in 1910, which remains the snowiest January day on record.

Columbus’ Snowiest Day in History: Even if 10 inches of snow falls this weekend, it won’t surpass the snowiest day in Columbus history. That honor belongs to March 8, 2008, when 15.5 inches of snow fell.

Snowfall Totals So Far: By Friday morning, the city had already received around 2 inches of snow from overnight showers.