The ease of Monday morning commutes may depend upon which side of the winter storm dividing line you live on in north central Ohio.
The question remains … where exactly will that line be established by the first storm of 2025, a wintry mix that’s been dubbed Winter storm Blair.
As of Sunday afternoon, it appears Richland and Ashland counties will see less snow than Knox County, according to the National Weather Service office in Cleveland.
Snowfall will enter from the south late Sunday evening and continue through Monday, according to forecasters.
Generally, just an inch, or maybe two, is expected north of U.S. 30 with higher amounts south of that same highway.
There is some uncertainty in snowfall amounts south of U.S. 30 where a tight weather slope sets up, though up to three inches of white stuff is possible.
North central Ohio, it would appear, is dodging an oversized winter bullet this time.
A wide swath of the nation has not (or will not) be so lucky. The storm has led to blizzard and winter storm warnings for millions of residents from the Plains to the mid-Atlantic.
Heavy snow and ice will likely snarl travel and cause delays and closures in these region. Ice could be damaging to power lines and trees for some locations.
— The Weather Channel is warning Kansas City, St. Louis, and Wichita, Kansas, of hazardous driving conditions.
— Lake effect snow in states bordering the Great Lakes will add to the precipitation.
— Later today and tonight, the storm will stretch as far east as West Virginia and the Appalachian Mountains and south into Oklahoma. Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and Louisville will be added to the cities that will face hazardous driving.
— By Monday, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Charleston, S.C., and portions of West Virginia will get their turn to potentially be buried by snow. Accumulations across the affected areas are expected to reach between six and 12 inches.
The storm is the result of what’s known as an Arctic Outbreak, which is itself a creature of the polar vortex, according to Time magazine.
A polar vortex is a formation of westerly winds that collect over the Arctic in the winter, isolating the polar region from the surrounding atmosphere and causing temperatures within the vortex to plunge, but leaving surrounding temperatures unaffected.
That’s only when the polar vortex remembers its place, however—which it’s not doing this weekend. Instead, a pair of high pressure areas are forcing the jet stream to plunge southward, bringing the icebox air of the polar vortex with them deep into the lower 48 states.
At the same time, a so-called blocking high—a static area of high pressure—over Greenland is also forcing the jet stream, and more cold weather, southward.
Regardless, here is your NWS forecast for the next several days:
Monday
Snow likely, mainly before 11 a.m. Cloudy, with a high near 27. Blustery, with a north wind 15 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Monday Night
A chance of snow before 8 p.m., then a chance of snow showers between 8 p.m. and 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 13. Northwest wind 11 to 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Tuesday
Partly sunny, with a high near 23. Northwest wind around 11 mph.
Tuesday Night
A slight chance of snow showers after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 15. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 21.
Wednesday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 10.
Thursday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 20.
Thursday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 9.
Friday
Partly sunny, with a high near 23.
Friday Night
A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 18. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 25.
