Minus-30 wind chill will usher in storm that will last until Christmas
Wind-chill values as low as minus-30 are forecast in North Central Ohio on Friday and Saturday.
Two warnings — a wind chill warning and a winter storm warning — have been issued by the Cleveland office of the National Weather service and will remain in effect until Christmas Eve.
Residents of Richland, Ashland, Crawford and Marion counties should all be on alert for at least the next two days, meteorologists warn.
"If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency," the warnings state. "Avoid outside activities if possible. When outside, make sure you wear appropriate clothing, a hat and gloves."
Nasty weather forecast through Christmas
Rain Thursday night was forecast to turn to snow early Friday morning.
The weather services predicted temperatures to drop more than 40 degrees by Friday.
The forecast included freezing by midnight Thursday and zero degrees by 6 a.m. Friday.
Friday afternoon's temperature is projected to be about minus-4 with a wind chill of minus-30.
Meteorologists predict as much as three inches of snow could fall Thursday night and another two inches Friday.
Wind gusts will be as much as 55 mph on Friday and Saturday.
The high Saturday will be about 8 and the high Christmas Sunday about 11. Lows both nights will be around 3.
Use extreme caution to remain safe
Crews from the Ohio Department of Transportation will be on roads in 12-hours shifts during the storm, according to an ODOT news release.
"Travel on Friday, Saturday and potentially Sunday — depending on how lake effect snow fall persists — will be impacted," the news release reads.
Drivers who find it necessary to travel are urged to plan ahead, allow themselves extra time and drive cautiously.
"In northeast Ohio, we've got more than 260,000 tons of salt on hand and more than 300 snowplow drivers ready to keep the roads as safe and passable as possible," the news release reads. "Even as the forecast is changed and updated over the next several hours, one thing remains the same: ODOT snowplows will be working around the clock."
A common saying during the winter is "don't crowd the plow," meaning that it's better to stay behind a highway truck and drive on the ground they clear than attempt a pass.
If your vehicle breaks down or you are involved in a crash, turn on your hazard lights, move your vehicle as far off the roadway as possible, remain in the vehicle, and call the Ohio Highway Patrol by dialing #677.
Nationwide, winter storms, bad weather and sloppy road conditions are factors in nearly half a million crashes and more than 2,000 road deaths every winter, according to AAA data.
The weather service reminds Ohioans ahead of the storm that the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning "is greater during winter storms when doors and windows stay closed and fireplaces and gas heaters are in use… you can also be exposed to deadly CO levels when warming up your car in the garage or when snow covers your tail pipe."
ztuggle@gannett.com
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Twitter: @zachtuggle
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Storm will bring Ohio a white Christmas after dangerous wind chills
