Ohio counties face first Level 3 snow emergency in decades with 13 inches forecast
Ellie Kemp
Featured Image Credit: Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images
Parts of the US have come to standstill after being pelted with thick blankets of snow this weekend.
Last week, forecasters warned 'catastrophic' Storm Fern would wreak havoc across the country - and that has certainly been the case for Ohio residents.
The storm brought heavy, prolonged snowfall, with between six and 13 inches forecast and more than nine inches reported in some areas, including parts of Franklin County, Columbus, the Hindustan Times reports.
Currently, some 27 counties are under a historic Level 3 snow emergency warning. As per the Erie County Sheriff's Office, the weather alert is enforced due to 'extremely hazardous conditions.'
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"Roadways are closed to all non-emergency travel.... No one should be on the roadway unless it is absolutely essential..." the Office explained.
— McNeil (@REFLOG18) January 25, 2026
📍Granville, Ohio (yes it’s real and not AI) 😂 pic.twitter.com/AN2OK4U4Vv
"Those operating vehicles on the roadway for non-emergency reasons may be subject to arrest."
Photos of chaotic wintery scenes have since emerged. In Franklin County, photos show what appears to be an abandoned lorry stuck in the road, stuck on sheets of snow.
Meanwhile in Granville, Licking County, people are making the most of the snow, where one social media video shows a person being pulled on a sleigh by a pack of huskies.
A Level 3 snow emergency remains in place across Franklin County, which means all roads are closed to non-emergency personnel.
— Franklin County Sheriff’s Office (@OHFCSO) January 25, 2026
Since this is the first time the county has been officially placed under a Level 3, we are answering your questions here: https://t.co/SAzOSzPAfT pic.twitter.com/rBr8Y0PIum
Elsewhere across the US, some 14 deaths have been linked to the winter storm across New York, Tennessee, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Kansas and Texas, reports the BBC. Sub-zero temperatures are set to remain in place, the National Weather Service says.
An Extreme Cold Warning for large parts of Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania is in effect from 7pm today until 11am Tuesday (January 27). Wind chills could drop as low as minus 26 F (minus 32 C), making outdoor conditions even more dangerous.
Officials warn that frostbite can occur on exposed skin within 30 minutes.
"Dress in layers including a hat, face mask, and gloves if you must go outside," the service added.
The extreme cold is caused by Arctic air, which is expected to linger through the week, keeping wind chills well below zero.
As of Monday morning (January 26), NBC4 reports the following counties are under a Level 2 snow warning, where drivers are urged to stay home:
The publication reports that the following counties are still under a Level 3 snow emergency: