If you’ve lived in Central Ohio for more than five minutes, you know the drill. One day you’re wearing a light jacket at Easton, and the next, you’re panic-buying rock salt at the High Street Kroger because a "clipper" is coming.
Honestly, the question of how much snow is expected in Columbus Ohio is usually a moving target. Right now, as we sit in the middle of January 2026, the short answer is: not as much as the grocery store lines would suggest, but just enough to make 270 a total mess.
Today, Saturday, January 17, we’re looking at some light snow with about a 20% chance of precipitation. It’s mostly cloudy with a high of 34°F. That’s the classic Columbus "maybe" weather. It’s cold enough to stick to the grass but warm enough that the roads mostly just stay slushy and gross.
The Reality of the January 2026 Forecast
People love to hype up these winter storms, but the data from the National Weather Service in Wilmington tells a more nuanced story. We aren't looking at a 1978 blizzard situation here.
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Tonight, the chance of snow stays around 20%, though it should clear up as the temperature drops to a bone-chilling 16°F. If you’re heading out to the Short North tonight, watch for those patches of black ice. The real story isn't the volume of snow—it’s the temperature dive.
By Monday, the high is only 18°F. That’s "hurt your face" cold. When it gets that cold, even a light dusting of snow becomes incredibly slick because the salt doesn't work as effectively.
What’s Coming This Week?
If you're looking for a "snow day" for the kids, you might want to look toward the end of next week.
- Sunday, Jan 18: Cloudy with a 25% chance of light snow overnight. High of 24°F.
- Mid-week: We get a weird warm-up on Wednesday (high of 39°F) which basically just means a lot of rain and melting slush.
- Saturday, Jan 24: This is the one to watch. The forecast is currently showing a higher probability of consistent snow with a 35% chance in the evening and a low of 10°F.
Historically, Columbus averages about 22 inches of snow a year. We usually get the bulk of that in January and February. So far this month, we've had a few dustings and some wintry mix, but we are actually slightly below average for total accumulation.
Why Columbus Snow is So Hard to Predict
Basically, we live in a transition zone. We’re too far south to get the consistent lake-effect dumps that hit Cleveland, but we’re far enough north that we don't just get rain like Cincinnati.
The jet stream loves to wobble right over the Ohio River Valley. A shift of just 30 miles can be the difference between three inches of powder and a disappointing drizzle. Local meteorologists often talk about the "I-71 corridor" as a dividing line. Often, the northwest side of the city (Dublin, Hilliard) gets significantly more than the southeast side (Groveport, Canal Winchester).
The La Niña Factor
This 2025-2026 winter season is being influenced by a weak La Niña. For the Ohio Valley, that typically means wetter-than-average conditions. However, "wetter" doesn't always mean "snowier."
If the temperatures hover around 33°F, we just get a lot of gray, rainy days. But if that moisture hits a cold snap—like the one we’re seeing this coming Monday—that’s when you get the heavy, wet snow that breaks tree limbs and knocks out power in neighborhoods like Clintonville.
Survival Tips for the Next Snowfall
Don't be the person sliding through a red light on Morse Road.
First, check your tire pressure. When the temp drops from 34°F today to 16°F tonight, your "low tire" light is going to scream at you. It’s just physics.
Second, if how much snow is expected in Columbus Ohio looks like it might exceed an inch, give yourself an extra 20 minutes for the commute. COTA buses usually stay on schedule, but the side streets in neighborhoods like German Village take forever to get plowed.
Honestly, the city is pretty good at treating the main arteries like Broad and Main, but the residential areas are always a gamble.
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Moving Forward
Looking at the 10-day trend, the coldest air is yet to come. Tuesday and Wednesday of next week will see lows around 7°F. While the actual snowfall totals for this weekend are expected to be light (likely under an inch of total accumulation), the freezing of existing moisture is the real hazard.
Keep an eye on the Saturday, Jan 24 window. That looks like our next best chance for a measurable event that might actually require a shovel. For now, keep the scraper in the car and maybe grab an extra bag of salt before the next dip in temp.
Stay warm, and maybe stay off the 315 if things start looking white outside.