Winter woes: Dangerously cold wind chills and accumulating snow return to northern Ohio

Northern Ohio remains in the grip of Old Man Winter.

A new round of wind chill advisories have been issued by the National Weather Service.

The latest warning of potentially dangerous wind chills starts at 10 p.m. Tuesday for northern Ohio and will run through noon Wednesday.

Forecasters say wind chills as low as 15 degrees below zero are possible.

"The cold wind chills could result in hypothermia if precautions are not taken," the weather service says.

What is wind chill: Northern Ohio weather factors that determine what's a dangerous wind chill

And more snow is on the way, too.

"Multiple rounds of accumulating snow are possible this Thursday through Friday," forecasters say.

Anywhere from 1 to 3 inches of snow are possible in the Canton area on Thursday.

Temperatures will rise into the 20s by the weekend and above freezing on Monday.

Will school be canceled because of the cold?

Stark County schools were open on Tuesday.

When it comes to the cold there's no magic formula to determine when school is canceled with varying policies among districts.

Significant snowfall is far less tricky as road conditions when the buses would start to make their rounds generally dictate whether classes will be canceled.

As for the cold, Medina schools, for example, generally looks at three factors from wind chill to the air temperature to road conditions.

"In most situations, if air temperature is 0 to -10 with a little or moderate wind chill, we will likely have school," the district's policy says. "Air temperature of -20 or below (regardless of wind chill) will probably cause us to cancel school.

"If the temperatures are between -11 to -19 and depending on wind chill, road conditions, and other current weather conditions, we may or may not have school."

To help residents cope with the cold temperatures, Canton and Massillon are providing warming centers.

Canton warming centers

The Refuge of Hope at 715 Second St. NE, Canton, will be available as a warming shelter through 6 p.m. today. Guests must enter through door #4 and ring the bell. Hot beverages and food will be available.

The Canton Civic Center at 1101 Market Ave. N will be open as an overnight warming center beginning at 5 p.m. todayJan. 16 through 8 a.m. Wednesday.

Guests must enter through the south doors marked “McKinley Room” located below the parking garage. Beverages and hot food will be available.

According to a news release from the city, COVID-19 precautions must be honored at the warming shelter, such as masks and social distancing. Masks will be available.

SARTA will provide transportation.

Those who need transportation to a warming center may access SARTA from any regular stop to the Cornerstone Transit Center on Cherry Avenue SE. Once at the Cornerstone Transit center, use route 108 for transportation to the Canton Civic Center. Tell the bus driver you are en route to the warming center and there will be no fee.

Return transportation will be provided from the Canton Civic Center to Cornerstone Transit Center free of charge on route 108.

If transportation is needed when SARTA is not available, call 330-649-5800 for help.

The Canton Police and Fire departments will help staff the locations and check on citizens who are outside in the cold weather. Canton citizens needing assistance may call 911.

Massillon warming centers

The Massillon City Health Department will open a warming center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on any weekday in January or February that has a forecasted high below 15 degrees.

In January, the location will be Central Presbyterian Church at 47 Second St. NE, Massillon. To access the warming center, ring the bell at the Second Street door.

In February, the site will be the health department at 611 Erie St. S, Massillon. Water and snacks will be provided. If the health department is closed due to a holiday or emergency, a warming center will not open that day.

When a warming center will be open, information will be sent out via the Nixle alert system, the health department’s Facebook page, and on the electronic sign at Central Presbyterian Church.

Text MASSILLON to 888777 to be enrolled in the Nixle alert system.

In addition, SARTA will have a warming bus in front of the new transit center being built at 227 Tommy Henrich Drive NW, Massillon, through SaturdayJan. 20. This bus will be available daily from 5:30 am. to 11 p.m.

What's the forecast?

Tuesday: Snow showers likely, mainly before 1 p.m.. High near 16. Wind chill values as low as minus 1. West wind 9 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than an inch possible.

Tuesday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 2. Wind chill values as low as minus 13. Southwest wind 9 to 11 mph.

Wednesday: Increasing clouds, with a high near 20. Wind chill values as low as minus 14. Southwest wind 11 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph.

Wednesday night: A slight chance of snow showers after 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 19. Southwest wind 9 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Thursday: Snow showers, maily after 8 a.m. High near 26. Southwest wind 8 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Thursday night: Snow showers, mainly after 2 a.m. Low around 20. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Friday: Snow showers. High near 24. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Friday night: Snow showers. Low around 11. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Saturday: Snow showers likely, mainly before 8 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 18. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Saturday night: A chance of snow showers before 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 6. Chance of precipitation in 30%.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 24.

Sunday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 12.

Monday: Partly sunny with a high near 35.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Canton area weather will have dangerous wind chills, snow