A significant winter storm is expected to impact the region this weekend bringing accumulating snow to many in the Miami Valley, Storm Center 7 Chief Meteorologist McCall Vrydaghs said.
A Winter Storm Warning has been issued for Greene, Preble, Darke, Montgomery, Butler, Clinton and Warren counties in Ohio and Wayne and Randolph counties in Indiana, which will be in effect from 4 a.m. Saturday until 7 a.m. Sunday. The rest of the Miami Valley is under a Winter Weather Advisory from 7 a.m. Saturday until 7 a.m. Sunday.
Snowfall estimates are three to five inches north of U.S. 36 with all other areas seeing four to six inches. An isolated seven inch spot is possible wherever an enhanced band of snow sets up.
“As the storm moves closer during the afternoon, some warmer air to the south may infiltrate the snow and perhaps try to mix with some rain in the far south,” Storm Center 7 Meteorologist Dontae Jones said. “While a small chance, there is also a possibility that snow could briefly mix with freezing rain at times.”
There is a difference with how winter storm watches, warnings and winter weather advisories are issued for different counties in our area.
Generally, for areas north of Interstate 70, if 3 inches of snow are expected in a 12-hour period a Winter Weather Advisory is issued. If 6 inches of snow are expected over a 12-hour period, a Winter Storm Warning is issued for those same areas.
For Butler, Clinton and Warren counties, 2 inches of snow expected in 12 hours prompts a Winter Weather Advisory and 4 inches of snow in 12 hours prompts a Winter Storm Warning.
