Columbus and central Ohio are bracing for a winter storm that could drop more than a half-foot of snow overnight Sunday and into Monday. We’ll keep track of all developments here.
Which Ohio counties have snow emergencies?
Under Ohio law, county sheriffs can declare snow emergencies and close municipal, state, county and township roads. Two central Ohio counties — Fairfield and Pickaway — and several other Ohio counties are currently experiencing snow emergencies. Here is the list of counties with their county seat in parentheses:
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Fairfield County (Lancaster) Level 1
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Pickaway County (Circleville) Level 1
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Athens County (Athens) Level 2
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Fayette County (Washington Court House) Level 1
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Hocking County (Logan) Level 2
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Muskingum County (Zanesville) Level 1
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Perry County (New Lexington) Level 1
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Ross County (Chillicothe) Level 2
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Scioto County (Portsmouth) Level 2
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Vinton County (McArthur) Level 2
Snow emergency definitions can vary by county but generally are quite similar. Here is what each level means.
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Level 1 Snow Emergency: Roads are hazardous with blowing and drifting snow and may be icy. Motorists should drive cautiously.
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Level 2 Snow Emergency: Roads are more hazardous with blowing and drifting snow and may be icier. Only those who feel it’s absolutely necessary should be on the roads.
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Level 3 Snow Emergency: All roadways are closed to non-emergency personnel. No one should be driving during these emergencies unless absolutely necessary or if there is a personal emergency. Employees should contact their employers to see if they have to report to work. Drivers on the roads may be subject to arrest.
More: What do snow emergency levels mean in Columbus?
Are schools closing around Columbus?
Most local schools are scheduled to return from winter holiday break on Monday. Other schools are returning later.
While the snowfall Sunday into Monday morning could impact start times or whether students actually return, districts and superintendents often make those calls on the morning of school after checking on road conditions.
Some area public school districts have already canceled school Monday as of 8:45 p.m. Sunday, given the amount of snow forecast. Among them:
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Amanda-Clearcreek Local Schools: Closed
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Berne Union Local Schools: Closed
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Bloom-Carroll Local School District: Closed
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Fairfield Union Local School District: Closed
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Jonathan Alder Local Schools: Closed
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Lancaster City Schools: Closed
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Logan Elm Local School District: Closed
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Madison-Plain Local Schools: Closed
Bexley Local Schools, Delaware City Schools, Dublin City Schools, Grandview Heights Schools, Upper Arlington City Schools have teacher in-service work days on Monday, but no classes. Students are scheduled to return Tuesday.
Check with your local school district or check back at dispatch.com to see if your school is closed or delayed.
Ohio State University also canceled in-person classes, as did Columbus State Community College.
More: Ohio State main campus cancels in-person classes Monday due to winter storm advisory
How do I track power outages in the Columbus area?
AEP Ohio, which services much of the Columbus area, has an online power outage map available on its website.
For Columbus Division of Power customers, the city has its own outage map available online.
How do I check for winter road closures in Columbus?
If the weather outside is frightful, some roads in Columbus are likely closed. You can check road closures using OHGO — the Ohio Department of Transportation’s live road map — and popular navigation apps like Waze, Apple Maps and Google Maps.
You can also check which city streets and roads have been plowed
What are the snowfall records for Jan. 5 and 6?
The most snow that has come down on Jan. 5 in Columbus is 2.5 inches in 2003. If Columbus gets 3-5 inches of snow on Sunday as NWS Wilmington has forecasted, it will set a new record.
The snowfall record for Jan. 6, on Monday, will be tougher to beat at 11.9 inches set in 1910. That day is also the snowiest January day on record.
What was the snowiest day in Columbus history?
Even if 10 inches of snow falls on Columbus this weekend, it still will not be the snowiest day ever. That title goes to March 8, 2008, when 15.5 inches of the white stuff fell.
How much snow has fallen in Columbus already?
Around 2 inches of snow already blanketed the city Friday morning after overnight snow showers.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Central Ohio snow emergencies, school closings: Winter storm approaches