Winter storm to affect Ohio State Columbus and regional campuses

A storm system will track through the Ohio Valley today and tonight, leading to wet weather and snow-covered roads at The Ohio State University.

According to the Wilmington office of the National Weather Service, snow will develop across areas north of I-70 by midafternoon today. Snowfall rates will increase late in the day into the early evening. Robert Armstrong, director of Emergency Management & Fire Prevention in the Department of Public Safety, said all Ohio State campuses should expect winter weather.

For the Columbus and Newark area, temperatures are expected to remain above freezing until Thursday evening, minimizing the chances for significant snowfall. A rain and snow mix is expected between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. tonight. Around 7 p.m., it is expected to change over to all rain until early Thursday morning, when there will once again be a slight chance of a rain and snow mix. A half an inch of snow is possible this afternoon and another one-tenth of an inch of snow is possible Thursday morning.

A winter weather advisory is in effect from 4 p.m. today through 10 a.m. Thursday for the Marion campus area. Precipitation today will likely start as rain a little before 3 p.m. Sometime between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. it will turn to a rain/snow mix before turning to all snow around 5 p.m. By Thursday morning, 1 to 3 inches of snow is expected. Thursday night could bring another half an inch of snow and sub-zero wind chills.

The Lima campus is also under a winter weather advisory from 5 p.m. today through 1 p.m. Thursday. Precipitation could start as rain/snow mix this afternoon before transitioning to all snow. Between 1 to 2 inches of snow is possible today with more snow and freezing rain mixed in tonight. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches is possible, with ice accumulation of less than one-tenth of an inch.

A winter weather advisory is in effect for the Mansfield campus area from 4 p.m. today until 10 a.m. Thursday. There is a slight chance of a rain/snow mix this afternoon before turning to all snow. Daytime accumulation will be less than 1 inch. After 11 p.m., snow mixed with freezing rain is possible until morning. About 2.5 to 4.5 inches of snow accumulation is possible. Ice accumulation is expected to be less than one-tenth of an inch. Another inch of snow is possible Thursday evening.

The Wooster campus is also under a winter weather advisory through 10 a.m. Thursday. A rain/snow mix will begin this afternoon before turning to all snow. Total daytime accumulation of around 1 inch is expected. Overnight could bring snow mixed with freezing rain. New snow accumulation is expected to be between 1 to 3 inches.

Armstrong has built a website where people can monitor the current conditions on the Columbus campus. The site includes a live weather camera, updated weather conditions and current forecasts.

The Department of Public Safety uses automated messaging in the form of text alerts, social media, campus screen and audio messages, and conventional media to warn students, faculty and staff of hazardous weather. Members of the university community should follow emergency.osu.edu or @OSU_EMFP on Twitter for updates.