Ohio first snow 2026 is on the calendar, but only in a very limited way. As of Tuesday morning, November 10, the National Weather Service forecasts a cold, unsettled end to the week, with a few wet flakes possible in Northeast Ohio on Friday, November 13, rather than a statewide snowfall on Thursday and Friday. That is narrower than the first signals suggested, and it matters for Friday drivers in Akron, Canton and Cleveland.
The short version: Thursday, November 12, looks wet and windy, not snowy. Rain moves in Wednesday night, showers continue Thursday, and daytime temperatures stay well above freezing. Colder air arrives late Thursday night into Friday, and even then the forecast is rain mixed with snow at times, not a snowstorm. The National Weather Service says impactful accumulations remain rather unlikely, and no winter weather advisories were in effect for Ohio on Tuesday morning.
What the National Weather Service is forecasting for Thursday and Friday
In Cleveland, the forecast issued at 3:02 a.m. on November 10 calls for showers on Thursday, with a high near 51, a north wind of 11 to 20 mph and gusts as high as 31 mph. Showers continue Thursday night, with a low around 39, and again on Friday, with a high near 45. Snow is not named at all in the city’s point forecast for Thursday or Friday.
Akron and Canton are colder. In Akron, Thursday brings showers and a high near 50, with a low around 36 Thursday night. On Friday, rain and snow showers are likely before 1 p.m. and again after 4 p.m., with rain showers in between, and a high near 43. Rain and snow are likely Friday night, mainly before 1 a.m., with a low around 32. Canton is similar, with a chance of rain and snow showers late Thursday night, a low around 34 and little or no snow accumulation expected, then rain and snow showers likely on Friday, becoming all rain after 1 p.m.
Columbus and Cincinnati stay warmer and drier. In Columbus, rain is likely on Thursday, mainly after 1 p.m., with a high near 52, then a dry, partly sunny Friday, with a high near 44. In Cincinnati, there is a chance of rain Thursday, mainly after 1 p.m., with a high near 52, then a partly sunny Friday, with a high near 45. Neither city has snow in its National Weather Service point forecast for Thursday or Friday.
Why this matters for the Thursday and Friday commutes
Even without accumulation, the timing is awkward. Thursday’s rain arrives with a cold front, and the wind turns blustery, with gusts to about 30 mph in northern Ohio. Friday highs are only in the low to mid-40s in the north, and lows fall to about 31 to 32 statewide on Friday night. Wet roads can turn slick in spots overnight, especially on bridges, overpasses and untreated side roads. Allow extra time for the Friday morning drive in Akron and Canton.
What is NOT expected
- No statewide snowstorm, and no measurable snow for most Ohioans. Canton is forecast to see little or no snow accumulation, and no accumulation is named for Cleveland, Columbus or Cincinnati.
- No winter storm warning, watch or advisory was in effect for Ohio on Tuesday morning. The only advisories on the Lake Erie shore were Small Craft Advisories for boaters.
- No snow on Thursday. The National Weather Service in Cleveland says it has high confidence that all precipitation will fall as rain through Thursday.
Ohio snow emergency levels: a quick refresher
If flakes do show up, the next question many readers ask is what happens if a county declares a snow emergency. Ohio uses a three-level system, declared county by county by the sheriff: Level 1 means roads are hazardous and drivers should use great caution; Level 2 means drive only if necessary; and Level 3 means roads are closed to non-emergency travel. No level is in effect for this forecast. Read our guide to snow emergency levels in Ohio for the full definitions, who declares them, and how to check your county.
Driving and prep basics for the first cold snap
- Slow down and double your following distance on wet roads, especially in Thursday’s rain and in any Friday mix in Northeast Ohio.
- Clear every window before you drive, check your tires and wipers, and keep at least half a tank of fuel.
Frequently asked questions
Will it snow in Ohio on Thursday, November 12, 2026?
No, according to the National Weather Service forecasts issued on November 10. Thursday is expected to bring rain showers across Ohio, with highs of 50 to 52 degrees.
How much snow will Ohio get on Friday, November 13, 2026?
Little or none is expected. Rain and snow showers are likely at times in Akron and Canton on Friday and Friday night, but Canton is forecast to see little or no snow accumulation, and the National Weather Service says impactful accumulations remain rather unlikely.
Is there a snow emergency in Ohio this week?
No. No winter weather advisory was in effect for Ohio on Tuesday morning, November 10, and no snow emergency level had been declared for this forecast. Snow emergency levels in Ohio are declared county by county by the sheriff, based on road conditions, not on a forecast alone.
Forecasts for a late-week system can still shift, so treat Friday in Northeast Ohio as a watch-the-flakes day, not a snow day.
Sources: National Weather Service Cleveland, weather.gov/cle, and National Weather Service Wilmington, weather.gov/iln. Forecasts issued on the morning of November 10, 2026. Image: AI-generated illustration.
