Cincinnati weather: Freezing temperatures, snow cause closings Friday

Quinlan Bentley, Cincinnati Enquirer
·3 min read
The National Weather Service at Wilmington says snow is on the way and a rapid drop in temperatures will create slick conditions and may lead to hazardous travel.
The National Weather Service at Wilmington says snow is on the way and a rapid drop in temperatures will create slick conditions and may lead to hazardous travel.

With freezing wind chills and snow hitting Greater Cincinnati starting Thursday night and lasting through the holiday weekend, businesses, schools, governments, and even the Cincinnati Zoo, are preparing for the worst.

Winter storm warnings and wind chill warnings are in place for portions of southwest Ohio, Northern Kentucky and southeast Indiana, according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington, Ohio.

Hamilton County was under a level 2 snow emergency Friday morning, which means roads may be icy and dangerous and driving is advised only if necessary. Butler County was under a level 1 snow emergency, meaning unnecessary travel is discouraged.

Winter storm updates:Frigid Friday follows record temperature drop and brings strong winds for holiday weekend

How to prepare:Tips for dealing with the snow, cold temperatures expected in Cincinnati

What's closing or closed due to weather?

  • The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is closed Friday and Saturday due to weather and closed Sunday through Tuesday as previously scheduled.

  • The Cincinnati Museum Center is closed Friday through Sunday.

  • The Newport Aquarium closed for Friday.

  • The Ark Encounter and Creation Museum will be closed all day Friday.

  • The Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum is closed Friday.

  • The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden will be closed Friday due to severe weather. The zoo had already planned to be closed Saturday and Sunday.

  • Imago Dei Christian Fellowship is closed Thursday, and the Dec. 22 evening service is canceled.

  • King Island's Winterfest will be closed Friday. Friday tickets may be used any other day. The park is expected to reopen on Monday.

  • Offices of the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners are closed Friday.

  • Perfect North Slopes is suspending operations Friday through Sunday. The slopes will reopen Monday morning.

  • TheServatii Cincinnati Christkindlmarkt at Moerlein Lager House will be closed Friday and Saturday.

  • Springboro Schools' campus will be closed starting at 6 p.m. Thursday through Dec. 26.

  • Wright-Patterson Air Force Base will close at 6 p.m. Thursday. Only emergency medical services are available at the Wright-Patterson Medical Center during an installation closure.

  • Wyoming City Schools will be closed Friday.

  • All YMCA of Greater Cincinnati branches will close Thursday at 7 p.m. Branches will reopen at 9 a.m. Friday.

How will it affect travel?

The National Weather Service offers these travel tips.
The National Weather Service offers these travel tips.

The Ohio Department of Transportation is preparing for the worst.

"Plan now for potentially hazardous travel conditions later this week," spokesman Matt Bruning said on Tuesday. "Our crews will be out ahead of, during, and after the storm, but roads will be snow-covered and icy.

"You will have to slow down and travel will take longer."

Cincinnati city workers will be out in full force during the upcoming winter storm, starting with 24 hours of nonstop snow mitigation. Starting at 7 p.m. Thursday, 115 drivers will take to the city to lay salt and clear snow from the roadways.

The weather service office says dramatic weather changes are on the way Thursday evening will be noticeable as they move east. "You will hear and immediately feel the arrival of this front. Travel is not advisable Thursday night into Friday morning," the weather office posted on Facebook.

The Akron Beacon Journal contributed.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Closures: Businesses, schools brace for inclement winter weather