Winter storm arrives Thursday; Rain, snow, strong winds, rapidly decreasing temps expected

WHIO Staff
·2 min read

A Winter Storm Warning goes into effect Thursday at 7 p.m. through Friday at 5 p.m. for Auglaize, Champaign, Darke, Logan, Mercer, Miami and Shelby counties in Ohio, and Wayne and Randolph counties in Indiana

A Winter Storm Watch is in effect from 7 p.m. Thursday until Friday at 5 p.m. for Butler, Clark, Clinton, Greene, Montgomery, Preble and Warren counties, as well as Union County, Indiana.

A Wind Chill Watch goes into effect Friday at 1 a.m. through Saturday at 4 a.m. for all of Miami Valley.

>> TRACK THE CONDITIONS WITH LIVE DOPPLER 7

QUICK-LOOK FORECAST:

  • Rain to snow transition w/30 to 40-degree TEMP DROP Thurs night into Friday

  • Strong winds 40-50mph Friday & Saturday AM

  • One of the coldest Christmas Days on record

>>Winter Storm Warning, Watch issued for Miami Valley; What to expect from holiday storm

DETAILED FORECAST:

TONIGHT: Clouds will continue to increase tonight before shower arrive during the overnight hours, Storm Center 7 Chief Meteorologist McCall Vrydaghs said.

Showers tonight could start briefly as freezing drizzle or freezing rain before it transitions over to all rain by Thursday morning.

Overnight lows will drop to around 30 degrees. Isolated slick spots will be possible on bridges and overpasses early Thursday morning.

THURSDAY: It will be cloudy and cool to start the day. Light rain will pick up in intensity throughout the day. Breezy with highs around 40. As cold air arrives with this storm in the evening a RAPID transition from rain to snow will occur. Currently the timing of the transition looks to be from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Temperatures will drop 30-40 degrees overnight. Wet roads may flash freeze. Winds will gust from 40-50 mph with stronger winds in the northern Miami Valley.

The most difficult travel time period will be Thursday night and Friday morning.

FRIDAY: Slick and snow-covered roads by morning. Accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible but the snow will be BLOWING as winds are the strongest through the first half of Friday.

Snow showers end so the rest of the day is just dealing with bitter cold. We wake up around 2 degrees and strong winds that could lead to isolated power outages. Wind chills will range from -20 to -30.

SATURDAY: Bitter cold with dangerous wind chills but a dry day. Highs only reach single digits. Wind chills will remain from -10 to -25. Roads may remain slick in spots.

CHRISTMAS: One of the coldest Christmas days on record. We wake up around 2 with a high of only 14. Wind chills will still range from -10 to -20 during the morning. We stay dry at least with some sunshine returning.

MONDAY: Scattered clouds. Cold again in the middle 20s. Slight chance for flurries.

TUESDAY: Still cold. Mix of sun and clouds with highs in the upper 20s.