Blinding snow, roaring winds, and treacherous ice have turned much of Ohio and the broader Midwest into a travel nightmare this week, as the powerful January 2026 North American winter storm, dubbed Winter Storm Fern by private forecasters, unleashed some of the heaviest snowfall and worst travel conditions the region has seen in years.

From level 3 snow emergencies in southwest Ohio to interstate closures and record-challenging snow totals around the Great Lakes, transportation systems have struggled to keep up while residents hunker down or face perilous journeys home.

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Record-Challenging Snowfall Slams Ohio and the Midwest

The storm, which developed around January 22 and swept across the country through January 27, buried swaths of the Midwest beneath drifts that in some communities rivaled the biggest snowfalls in decades. Preliminary National Weather Service data indicate that more than 15 inches of snow fell in dozens of locations across the Midwest and Great Lakes region within a 72 hour window, with parts of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio approaching or breaking daily snowfall records that had stood since the 1990s.

In Ohio, lake effect bands off Lake Erie intensified totals already laid down by the main storm system. Northeast Ohio communities from Lorain and Cuyahoga Counties eastward reported repeated bursts of heavy snow and whiteout conditions, with localized totals that climbed into double digits. Farther south and west in the state, the storm’s deformation band brought a long stretch of steady, moderate to heavy snow to cities such as Dayton, Springfield, and Lima, where snow depths quickly overwhelmed local plow operations.

Across the wider Midwest, the same storm pushed bitter Arctic air and heavy snow through Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and Michigan. Wind chills in parts of Iowa and Minnesota dropped below minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit, while major cities such as Kansas City and Wichita set new daily snowfall records. The combination of intense cold and deep snow left highways coated in ice, stranded drivers on rural roads, and forced authorities to close stretches of major interstates overnight.

Meteorologists note that, while not necessarily surpassing the all time benchmark storms of the late twentieth century, the breadth and severity of this system make it one of the most disruptive winter events in recent memory. With snow totals, wind gusts over 50 miles per hour in some locales, and dangerous subzero wind chills, Winter Storm Fern has tested both infrastructure and emergency response capabilities across the region.

Snow Emergencies Escalate: Level 3 in Parts of Ohio

As snow accumulations climbed and visibility dropped over the weekend, county sheriffs across Ohio began issuing snow emergencies in rapid succession. By Sunday evening and into Monday, residents in multiple counties awoke to find their communities at level 2 or level 3 status, the state’s highest designations for winter road conditions.

In Montgomery County, home to Dayton and a key crossroads for Interstates 70 and 75, officials declared a local state of emergency on January 25 and moved to a level 3 snow emergency as the storm peaked. Under level 3, all roadways are officially closed to nonemergency traffic, and drivers who ignore the order can face prosecution. County facilities, including the transfer station and administrative offices, were closed on Monday as plow crews worked around the clock to clear arterial routes and emergency corridors first.

Northeast Ohio counties also escalated their response. Erie, Lorain, Summit, Medina, Huron, and others cycled between level 1 and level 2 snow emergencies through the weekend as conditions worsened, with local officials urging residents to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary. In Cuyahoga County, which includes Cleveland, the sheriff’s office issued a level 2 emergency as lake effect bands repeatedly swept across the metro area, briefly dropping visibility to near zero and coating already icy streets with fresh powder.

Elsewhere around the state, rural counties confronted their own challenges, often with fewer plows and longer stretches of two lane roads to maintain. Sheriffs in central and southeastern Ohio used emergency declarations to restrict unnecessary travel, emphasizing that even experienced winter drivers could quickly find themselves stranded if they slid off a rural route far from help in subzero wind chills.

Highways, Interstates, and Turnpike Struggle Under the Load

On the ground, the most visible impact of the storm has been on the region’s highways. Long distance travel across the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes corridor became a risky gamble as plows fought a losing battle against heavy snowfall rates and persistent blowing and drifting. Major freight and passenger arteries, including Interstates 70, 75, 80, and 90, all experienced closures, partial shutdowns, or severely reduced speeds through the heart of the storm.

The Ohio Turnpike, which carries cross country traffic along the I 80 and I 90 corridor in northern Ohio, reported extremely hazardous conditions and urged motorists to delay travel. Turnpike officials said maintenance and roadway crews had been operating since Saturday in grueling 12 hour shifts, deploying nearly 100 snowplows along the 241 mile toll road and spreading tens of thousands of tons of salt and well over 100,000 gallons of liquid deicer to keep lanes passable as snow piled up and winds whipped across open farmland.

Despite aggressive treatment, the combination of heavy snow and plunging temperatures limited the effectiveness of road salt. With readings dropping below 20 degrees Fahrenheit across northern Ohio and much of the Midwest, highway departments were forced to mix additives into their salt stockpiles to help them activate in the Arctic air. Officials repeatedly warned that even after the snow tapered off, refreezing and black ice on bridges, ramps, and overpasses would remain a danger through the early morning and evening commutes for several days.

Nationally, the same storm disrupted travel far beyond Ohio. Airlines saw thousands of flights canceled or delayed as hubs in the Midwest and along the East Coast contended with ice, snow, and gusty winds. Amtrak and regional rail providers shortened or suspended some routes, while trucking companies advised drivers to delay cross country hauls until road conditions and visibility improved.

Communities Dig Out as Schools and Businesses Close

For residents, the storm brought daily life to a standstill short of outright power failures in many Ohio communities, though other parts of the country faced widespread outages. School closures spread rapidly across the Buckeye State and the Midwest as districts cited both snow covered roads and the risk of exposure for students waiting at bus stops in bitter wind chills. In some counties, snow days stretched into multiple days as plow crews focused first on primary routes and emergency access.

Businesses, government offices, and courts across the region also shuttered or shifted to remote operations. In Montgomery County, all county offices announced closures on Monday, January 26, while city and township officials around Dayton urged residents to use online services when possible and to check on neighbors, particularly older adults and those with mobility challenges. In Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati, many downtown offices reported skeleton staffing levels and hybrid work arrangements as employees contended with blocked driveways, unplowed side streets, and parking bans to make room for snow removal equipment.

Long after the storm’s main snow bands moved on, clean up continued to dominate local news and neighborhood conversations. Snowbanks piled high along sidewalks and driveways, forcing pedestrians into the street in some urban areas. Municipalities reintroduced winter parking restrictions, asking residents to move vehicles from designated sides of the street so crews could haul away accumulated snow and widen narrowed corridors for emergency vehicles and buses.

Community organizations, from churches to civic clubs, stepped in with warming centers, volunteer snow shoveling brigades for elderly or disabled homeowners, and hot meal programs. Local officials reminded residents to clear fire hydrants and building exits, to use safe heating methods to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, and to keep an eye on vulnerable populations who might struggle to cope with the combination of cold, isolation, and lingering snow.

Travelers and Tourists Face Disruptions and Safety Risks

For travelers and would be tourists, the storm’s timing at the heart of winter travel season led to cascading disruptions. Long weekend getaways to ski areas or city breaks in Midwestern hubs turned into extended stays when flights were canceled and interstates shut down. Hotels near airports, interstate interchanges, and city centers in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois reported a surge in stranded guests seeking last minute rooms as they waited for conditions to improve.

Roadside service providers across the region were inundated with calls about spinouts, dead batteries, and vehicles stuck in deep snowdrifts. Travel experts cautioned that even well equipped vehicles with all wheel drive and winter tires could get into trouble if visibility dropped suddenly or if drivers underestimated ice beneath the snowpack. They stressed the importance of packing emergency kits with blankets, warm clothing, nonperishable food, water, and phone chargers, especially for those traveling along rural stretches of highway where help might take time to arrive.

For out of town visitors unfamiliar with Ohio’s unique snow emergency system, the patchwork of level 1, 2, and 3 declarations created confusion. Tourism offices and destination marketing organizations used social media and email alerts to explain that in a level 3 county, nonessential travel is prohibited, and to urge visitors to remain in their lodging until conditions improved. Event organizers scrambled to reschedule concerts, conferences, and sporting events, prioritizing participant safety over schedules as parking lots and access roads remained impassable.

Despite the chaos, there were also bright spots. Some visitors embraced the unexpected extra days with winter walks in freshly snow covered parks, visits to local coffee shops once streets were cleared, and spur of the moment stays extended into midweek. Yet public safety officials repeatedly emphasized that the beauty of the snow should not distract from the underlying hazards that will linger until temperatures moderate and the deep snowpack begins to recede.

How Authorities and Residents Are Preparing for the Next System

Even as plows continued to push back drifts and utilities restored remaining outages elsewhere in the country, forecasters began tracking the possibility of additional systems that could impact parts of the United States in the days ahead. The National Weather Service highlighted the risk that frigid air and residual snow cover could amplify the impact of any new storm, particularly on roads and critical infrastructure already stressed by Winter Storm Fern.

In Ohio, state transportation officials signaled that they have adequate salt and deicer supplies to manage continued winter weather, despite earlier concerns that prolonged cold and snow might strain inventories. The Ohio Turnpike and the Ohio Department of Transportation pledged to keep plow crews on heightened alert and encouraged motorists to monitor updated travel advisories before setting out, especially overnight and in the early morning when refreezing is most likely.

Emergency management agencies are also using this storm as a real time test of communication systems. County level alerts through text, email, and push notifications were widely used to announce snow emergency levels, road closures, and warming center locations. Officials said they will review how effectively these messages reached non English speakers, visitors, and residents without easy internet access, with an eye toward improving outreach before the next major weather event.

For households, the storm has served as a stark reminder of the importance of winter preparedness. Hardware and outdoor outfitters reported brisk sales of shovels, ice melt, backup heaters, and portable power banks in the days leading up to the storm. Now, as the region digs out, safety advocates encourage residents to take stock of what worked, what supplies ran low, and how they might better prepare vehicles, homes, and travel plans for the remainder of the winter season.

FAQ

Q1: What is a level 3 snow emergency in Ohio?
In Ohio, a level 3 snow emergency is the highest designation used by county sheriffs during severe winter weather. It means all roadways are closed to nonemergency traffic, and only essential travel by emergency personnel is permitted. Drivers who ignore level 3 restrictions can face citations, and residents are urged to stay home until the order is lifted.

Q2: How were roads and highways in Ohio affected by this storm?
Road conditions in Ohio deteriorated rapidly as heavy snow, high winds, and bitter cold combined to create whiteouts and sheets of ice. Portions of major interstates experienced closures or severe restrictions, and the Ohio Turnpike operated with reduced speeds and continuous plowing. Even where lanes remained technically open, blowing and drifting snow made travel extremely hazardous.

Q3: Why did salt seem less effective on the roads during the coldest period?
Road salt works best near or just below the freezing point of 32 degrees Fahrenheit. During this storm, temperatures across northern and central Ohio fell into the teens and single digits, with even lower wind chills. At those temperatures, traditional rock salt melts ice more slowly, prompting highway departments to mix in additives and liquid deicers to help the salt remain effective.

Q4: How much snow did the Midwest receive from this storm overall?
Preliminary data from meteorologists show that across the Midwest and Great Lakes, many locations received more than 10 to 15 inches of snow from Winter Storm Fern, with some pockets seeing even higher amounts. While totals varied widely by location and elevation, the storm delivered one of the most widespread and intense snow events the region has seen in years.

Q5: Is it safe to travel if my county is only at a level 1 snow emergency?
A level 1 snow emergency indicates that roads are hazardous due to blowing, drifting, or icy conditions, but they are not closed. Travel is permitted, yet motorists are urged to drive very cautiously, reduce speed, increase following distance, and allow extra time. Even at level 1, conditions can quickly worsen, especially on untreated or rural roads.

Q6: What should drivers keep in their cars during storms like this?
Safety experts recommend that winter emergency kits include warm clothing and blankets, gloves and hats, nonperishable snacks, bottled water, a flashlight, a small shovel, sand or kitty litter for traction, an ice scraper, jumper cables, basic first aid supplies, and a fully charged phone with a car charger. These items can make a critical difference if you become stranded in deep snow or extreme cold.

Q7: How long will dangerous conditions last after the snow stops?
Even after the last flakes fall, dangerous conditions can persist for days. Packed snow, refreezing meltwater, and black ice on bridges and overpasses remain common hazards. Narrowed lanes and high snowbanks reduce visibility at intersections, and extremely cold temperatures can cause mechanical problems in vehicles. Authorities advise treating the first few clear days after a major storm with the same level of caution as the storm itself.

Q8: Are airports and rail services in Ohio back to normal?
Airports and rail services typically begin phased recovery as runways and tracks are cleared, but full normal operations can take time after a storm as crews reposition aircraft and equipment and work through backlogs. Travelers using Ohio airports or rail hubs in nearby Midwestern cities should expect residual delays and check their carrier or station updates frequently before heading out.

Q9: How can visitors and tourists keep track of snow emergencies if they are not from Ohio?
Visitors should monitor local news broadcasts, follow county sheriff and city government social media accounts, and check official state or county emergency management pages for real time alerts. Lodging providers and tourism offices often relay major updates to guests and can help explain local terms like level 1, 2, or 3 snow emergencies and how they affect travel plans.

Q10: What steps can residents take now to prepare for the rest of winter?
Residents can use this storm as a prompt to restock essential supplies, service their vehicles, and refine family emergency plans. That includes checking heating systems and carbon monoxide detectors, organizing snow removal tools, creating or updating car emergency kits, identifying nearby warming centers, and signing up for local alert systems so they receive timely warnings and guidance before the next round of severe weather.