COLUMBUS (WCMH) — A blanket of heavy wet snow cloaked much of Ohio Wednesday morning, resulting in scattered power outages. The snowfall ranged from a coating in the southeastern counties to four to eight inches in the north.
Central Ohio received two to four inches, with the heaviest totals west of I-71, mostly melting on the roads before the morning commute. Areas farther south and east had a coating on grassy surfaces, with up to two inches in the Hocking Hills.
Snowfall Totals Apr. 20-21
- Galion 6.0″
- Iberia 5.0″
- Shawnee Hills 3 SW (Union Co.) 5.0″
- Powell 4.2″
- Westerville 4.0″
- Washington Court House 4.0″
- Old Hilliard 3.6″
- Sunbury 3.5″
- Lincoln Village 3.5″
- Worthington 3.5″
- Dublin 5 NW 3.0″
- Grove City 3.0″
- New Albany 2.7″
- Tarlton 6 E (Hocking Co.) 2.0″
The storm that brought the relatively rare late snowfall developed along a slow-moving cold front crossing the state Tuesday evening, which lowered temperatures quickly from near 60 degrees to the 40s, falling to the mid-30s by midnight, as rain switched to snow.
Snow began falling in the late afternoon across the northwestern counties,, where Toledo had a record heavy late snowfall of 5.2 inches, surpassing Apr. 23=25, 2005.
The official city snowfall measured at John Glenn Columbus International Airport (1.2″) did not break the daily record set in 1901.
The heaviest snowfall in Columbus after April 21 totaled 2.4 inches Apr. 30, 1908. Snow has occasionally fallen in May, with light accumulations in 1989 and 1923 (less than an inch).
Snow showers whipped by brisk winds Thursday afternoon, with the temperature falling into the mid-30s, caused a delay at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati during the Reds game. Baseball action was postponed this evening at Cleveland’s Progressive Field due to snow and cold.
A freeze warning is in effect for all of central and southern Ohio early Thursday morning (1 a.m. to 10 a.m.), and covering delicate crops and vegetables is advised. A freeze watch is in effect for Friday morning.
Temperatures will slowly moderate by the weekend, reaching the upper 50s Friday afternoon, though below our normal high of 66 degrees. A chilly rain will develop Saturday, with readings staying in the 50s.