Columbus area gets less snow than expected. Parts still under wind advisory

A winter storm moved across the Columbus area early Wednesday morning, bringing snow and rain that made for a slushy mix on roads and sidewalks.

The National Weather Service on Tuesday night called for Columbus to receive between two to four inches of snow between midnight Tuesday and 1 p.m. Wednesday.

The snow transitioned to rain and sleet by mid-morning Wednesday, with possible snow showers overnight. Pickaway and Fairfield Counties remain under a wind advisory, with 40 to 50 mile per hour wind gusts through the evening.

What happened to all the snow?

Shortly after 11:30 a.m., the Wilmington office of the National Weather Service said in a Twitter post that the winter storm tracked "a bit further" north than meteorologists had expected. The storm's rain/snow line as a result moved north sooner than anticipated, which meant there was a smaller window of time for steady, heavy snow to fall.

Also contributing to the lack or less than anticipated amount of snowfall across Ohio and in the Columbus area was warm air on the southern end of the storm moving north faster than anticipated, the weather service said. Snow by mid-morning had changed to light rain for much of southwest and central Ohio.

Tomorrow, the NWS anticipates snow showers after 11 a.m. with a high near 34. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible In the evening, there is another chance of snow showers, before 1am. Snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible on Thursday evening.

Franklin County ends snow emergency

At 10 a.m. Wednesday, Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin ended the Level 1 snow emergency he had declared five hours earlier. The Level 1 snow emergency meant roads in the county were considered hazardous, with blowing and drifting snow.

Delaware County around the same time Wednesday morning dropped from a Level 2 snow emergency to a Level 1, and later ended the emergency. Union, Marion, Licking, Pickaway and Fairfield Counties all ended their Level 1 snow emergencies around noon.

Snow moved in at slower rate than anticipated

By 5:30 a.m., parts of Columbus had received between a half inch to an inch of snow, according to Ashley Novak, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

"The (snow) band is starting to mix with rain at times so that will cut down on some of the snowfall value," Novak said. "However, we still have some pretty good rates here over the next hour or two."

How much snow was the Columbus area expected to get?

Upwards of three inches in some places, according to Novak, with smaller amounts in southern areas. The snow is expected to transition to rain by mid-morning.

A winter weather advisory was issued for much of central Ohio at midnight Tuesday and will remain in effect until 1 p.m. Wednesday.

Columbus road conditions:How Columbus adjusted its plan for snow removal ahead of today's winter storm

What schools are closed or delayed?

Classes and extracurricular activities are cancelled Wednesday for Columbus City Schools, the state's largest district with about 47,000 students. The district provides bus service to some 36,000 district and charter and parochial school students.

Also closed is Gahanna-Jefferson, Groveport-Madison, Hilliard, New Albany Plain, Upper Arlington, Westerville and Marysville Exempted Village Schools.

At Columbus State Community College, daytime classes are canceled but evening classes beginning at 5 p.m. will be held as scheduled.

Dozens of other Columbus-area charter, preparatory and independent schools are closed or on two-hour delays. Find more closings here.

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Powell also is closed for Wednesday.

Winter weather:How to shovel snow safely

What do the county snow emergencies mean?

Delaware County is under a Level 2 snow emergency, while Franklin, Licking, Madison, Marion and Union are under a Level 1 snow emergency.

In Ohio, the sheriff of each county has the discretion to issue a snow emergency if they feel motorists should take caution when driving, or stay home entirely.

Level 1 snow emergency: Roads are hazardous with blowing and drifting snow. Roads may also be icy. Motorists are urged to drive very cautiously.

Level 2 snow emergency: Roadways are hazardous with blowing and drifting snow, and may also be very icy. Only those who feel it is necessary to drive should be out on the roads. Contact your employer to see if you should report to work. Motorists should use extreme caution.

Level 3 snow emergency: All roadways are closed to non-emergency personnel. No one should be driving during these conditions unless it is absolutely necessary to travel or a personal emergency exists. All employees should contact their employer to see if they should report to work. Those traveling on the roads may subject themselves to arrest.

Winter weather:5 winter driving tips to keep you safe, not sliding

What are road conditions like around Columbus and Ohio?

Just before 10 a.m. Wednesday, Columbus' Department of Public Service said on Twitter that more than 80 crews were out servicing arterial routes.

The city of Columbus has an online map, dubbed "Warrior Watch," that shows when city streets were last plowed.

The Ohio Department of Transportation also has live traffic updates where you can see accidents, conditions and even live camera feeds from the highways. Here's a look at the Columbus area. They also send out updates via Twitter. You can see what is it like around the state below.

Monroe Trombly covers breaking and trending news.

mtrombly@dispatch.com

@monroetrombly

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: How many inches of snow will Columbus receive?