Cincinnati weather: Wind chill values below zero in forecast; some schools delayed, closed

You will definitely need to bundle up to go outside on Tuesday with below-zero wind chills in the forecast.

According to a hazardous weather outlook issued by the National Weather Service in Wilmington, some light snow will fall for a few hours early Tuesday morning. Snow accumulations are expected to be less than an inch.

The special weather statement is in place for the Southwest Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and Southeast Indiana regions, which include Hamilton, Clermont, Butler, and Warren counties in Ohio and Boone, Kenton, and Campbell counties in Kentucky.

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Motorists should be prepared for slick road conditions this morning and allow extra time to reach their intended destination. Several area schools have announced closures and delayed starts due to the weather.

In addition to a slight chance of snow in the forecast early Tuesday, wind chills as low as five below zero are also expected to last through Wednesday morning.

As of 5 a.m. on Tuesday, it was 12 degrees in Cincinnati with a wind chill of -1. The wind chill value is expected to be -3 at 10 a.m. and stay near zero all day. The temperature is expected to climb to a high of 17 degrees at 4 p.m.

Another chance of accumulating snow is likely to occur on Thursday and Friday. Wind chills as low as five below zero are likely Saturday and Sunday morning.

How cold does it have to be to cancel school?

Most districts in Greater Cincinnati don't have a set policy when it comes to closing schools for weather-related issues. However, if the National Weather Service issues a wind chill warning, there's a good chance school districts will start discussing the possibility of being closed for in-person learning or delaying start times.

In past years, Mason City Schools officials said it will close on days when the temperature or wind chill factor dips below minus 20 to minus 25, The Enquirer reported in 2021. Talawanda School District, Campbell County Public Schools and Covington Independent Public Schools have similar policies.

Cincinnati Public Schools may also close for snow, or for extreme cold or hot temperatures, per its website.

For Boone County Schools, factors that are taken into consideration when deciding whether or not to cancel school include outside temperature, wind chill factors, amount of precipitation, and any road-clearing progress that's been made.

The Lakota School District has a similar policy. By 4 or 5 a.m., the district’s chief operating officer and other staff members will drive through the district to assess the conditions of main roads, subdivision streets, school parking lots, and sidewalks while also communicating with local law enforcement officials and township road crews.

Closures due to snow accumulation or extremely cold temperatures may occur in these districts. But there is no specific temperature that will lead to a school closure.

Most school districts will make a decision about school closures around 5 a.m.

Detailed weather forecast for Greater Cincinnati

Tuesday: A slight chance of snow before 9 a.m. Cloudy through mid-morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 17. Wind chill values as low as -3. West wind 8 to 10 mph. The chance of precipitation is 20%. Mostly clear at night, with a low around 8. Wind chill values as low as -4. West wind around 10 mph.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 28. Wind chill values as low as -5. Southwest wind 8 to 17 mph. Partly cloudy at night, with a low around 21. Southwest wind 9 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.

Thursday: Snow likely, mainly after 2 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 31. The chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch is possible. Snow is likely at night. Cloudy, with a low around 19. The chance of precipitation is 70%.

Friday: Snow likely, mainly before 8 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 23. The chance of precipitation is 70%. Low around 6.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 22 and a low around 5.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 29 and a low around 16.

Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 41.

This report contains information from The Enquirer archives.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati weather: wind chill values below zero in forecast