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Will Ohio see winter storm watch this week? Where snowfall could impact Thanksgiving travel

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Will Ohio see winter storm watch this week? Where snowfall could impact Thanksgiving travel

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Wintry weather conditions during the week of Thanksgiving may disrupt travel plans for nearly 80 million Americans. Snow, rain and cold temperatures are forecast to hit Ohio this week as over 3 million people prepare to navigate possible delays at airports and roadways.

According to AccuWeather forecasters, Ohio could be facing cloudy, cold and rainy weather throughout the week of Thanksgiving, expected to continue into Black Friday and the weekend.

“Accumulating snow will likely be somewhere along the I-70 to I-80 corridor from Illinois to Ohio in the Midwest,” AccuWeather predicts.

Storms, cold front and possible snow expected in Ohio Thanksgiving week

After the weather service predicted Midwest snow for Monday, forecasters say temperatures will “remain above average for one last day from the Southern Plains into the Midwest before a strong cold front pushes through on Tuesday.”

Meteorologists say possible brewing storms could also bring bad weather to parts of Ohio, including precipitation in Columbus, Cincinnati, and Akron on Wednesday and Thanksgiving Day.

Thanksgiving storm targeting the East could also hit Ohio Valley

Later in the week, a new storm packing the “potential for accumulating snow” is set to take shape across the eastern portion of the United States on Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday, according to USA TODAY reporting.

Two scenarios could play out:

  • The first scenario involves a slow-moving storm that could mean longer-lasting consequences from the Tennessee and Ohio Valleys through the Northeast.
  • The second scenario sends the same storm farther south and off the Carolina coast through Thanksgiving, which would mean a less intense storm with rounds of rain and even snow from the Tennessee Valley eastward to the East Coast.

Lake effect snow could impact Thanksgiving travel in and around Ohio

Possible long-lasting lake effect snow on the eastern shore of Lake Erie triggered winter storm alerts for several New York state counties, according to the Democrat & Chronicle.

Up to 7 inches of snow could accumulate in some places, making for hazardous road conditions during the height of post-Thanksgiving travel.

Plan ahead, monitor weather conditions before traveling

The Ohio Department of Transportation recommends the following driver safety tips in the event of snow and bad weather:

  • Leave early and allocate plenty of time to travel to your destination. “Expect any trip to take double the normal amount of time” in severe weather, ODOT says
  • Plan your travel route, accounting for hazardous conditions
  • Inspect your car before hitting the road (fluids, tire pressure, wipers, etc.), making sure to remove any snow from your vehicle prior to travel
  • Slow down when snow and ice are present; exercise extreme caution behind the wheel

For more winter driving tips, visit the Ohio Department of Public Safety.

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