With freezing wind chills and snow expected to hit Greater Cincinnati starting Thursday and lasting through the holiday weekend, businesses, schools and governments are preparing for the worst.
A winter storm watch is in place for portions of southwest Ohio and southeast Indiana until Friday at 5 p.m., according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington, Ohio.
When will it start?
Temperatures are expected to rapidly fall below freezing Thursday night, leading to the potential for a flash freeze.
How much snow could we see?
The weather service is warning of possible snow accumulations of 1 to 3 inches, wind gusts as high as 45 mph and wind chills as low as 30 degrees below zero. Commuters and holiday travelers are advised to plan for slippery road conditions and reduced visibility.
Forecasters say the wind gusts could bring down tree branches and cause power outages. And wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes.
More:White Christmas in Cincinnati? Cold air moving in
Be prepared as the winter storm approaches
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear issued a state of emergency on Wednesday in response to the cold weather. "After floods, tornadoes, ice storms and everything else we have faced, we don’t want to lose anyone to this weather front," Beshear said in a news release.
The city of Cincinnati has scheduled a press conference for Thursday morning to discuss its winter weather preparedness.
The Hamilton County Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency is warning of an increased risk of cold-related illnesses. Residents are advised to stay inside and avoid prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures.
Closings are starting in advance of the weather
- King Island's Winterfest will be closed Friday. The park is expected to reopen on Monday.
- Wyoming City Schools will be closed Friday.
- TheServatii Cincinnati Christkindlmarkt at Moerlein Lager House will be closed Friday and Saturday.
- Wright-Patterson Air Force Base will close at 6 p.m. Thursday. Only emergency medical services are available at the Wright-Patterson Medical Center during an installation closure.
- Perfect North Slopes is suspending operations Friday through Sunday. The slopes will reopen Monday morning.
How will it affect travel?
The Ohio Department of Transportation is preparing for the worst.
"Plan now for potentially hazardous travel conditions later this week," spokesman Matt Bruning said on Tuesday. "Our crews will be out ahead of, during, and after the storm, but roads will be snow-covered and icy.
"You will have to slow down and travel will take longer."
The Akron Beacon Journal contributed.
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