Weather report

[Speargirl]

Can someone give me a weather report for Ohio, I am looking to go up in mid Dec. with the kids they are wanting to see snow and I now have a place we can stay. But will there be any snow for us to see and play in. We just are wanting to play in it. We don't ski but would like enough snow to build a snowman and make angles and have fights with snow balls. Also it's a wet snow right? What do I need to bring for them to wear. I don't want them to freeze. they are 10 and 8 very small built and live in the Fl. Keys.
Staying in Columbus.
Thanks for any help you can give me.
Becky

 

[Divin'Papaw]

The weather up here varies so much from year to year. It also varies significantly from location to location. The best chance to see snow in December is one of the lake snow band areas in northern Ohio. Hopefully some of the N. Ohio folks can chime in as I don't know exactly where those lake snow areas are located in Ohio. In the southern 2/3rds of Ohio, you've probably got less than a 50/50 chance of having snow on the ground in December.

I know here in central Indiana, which is the same weather as the southern 2/3rds of Ohio, we can go all December and even January without snow, or we can have almost blizzard-like conditions. Last year was a very warm Dec and early Jan, but the previous year we had a near blizzard that hit Christmas Eve. Unfortunately it is just so variable.

In terms of what to wear, the key is layers. I'd say jeans, t-shirt and then a sweater or sweatshirt. If it does snow and they want to play in it, jeans won't work though. They're fine if they remain dry, but being cotton they are horrible when wet. They would need some sort of long john or thermal base layer and then a breathable but yet water proof top layer. You'll also need a coat (top layer) that is ideally wind proof and water proof. They'll also need gloves and a stocking cap of some sort and probably a scarf. They will need good socks and then either hiking boots or snow boots.

 

[northen diver]

Can someone give me a weather report for Ohio, I am looking to go up in mid Dec. with the kids they are wanting to see snow and I now have a place we can stay. But will there be any snow for us to see and play in. We just are wanting to play in it. We don't ski but would like enough snow to build a snowman and make angles and have fights with snow balls. Also it's a wet snow right? What do I need to bring for them to wear. I don't want them to freeze. they are 10 and 8 very small built and live in the Fl. Keys.
Staying in Columbus.
Thanks for any help you can give me.
Becky

Hello Becky: You guys should really try skiing since your from Fla. Not far from Columbus is a nice ski resort called Mad River Mountain in Bellfontaine (40 miles west of Columbus). They have the "bunny hills" for the beginners and it isnt really expensive to rent gear either. If you go East of Columbus 40 miles on SR 33 to a state park called Hocking Hills, they have very pretty 120 foot water falls that freezes over.They also have some nice caves for the kids to explore and you'll get a chance to see hundreds of bats (the bats wont bother you). And this park is free. I go there to Ice climb in late Jan and early Feb. If you go north to Lake Erie,it is pretty when it freezes over. Ohio starts to freeze over about mid Jan though. Also, Columbus has a COSI for the kids that is really neat and it is indoors so its warm. Dayton has a huge Air Force musuem that has most of the presidental planes, and over 200 other planes in four large hangers. It is heated and its free also. Make sure that you visit German villlage in Columbus also. It has lots of homemade beer.........

The snow can be wet at times, but as someone mentioned, layer up. Stay away from cotton and jeans. Wear long johns made of polypropolene, a pair of pants and shirt (fleece or wool) and a thin pair of nylon pants. Insulated nylon or some type of water proof materail gloves (have two pair of gloves for the kids incase they get wet), wool socks, boots, a sock type beenie and sun glasses. Make sure you guys drink plenty of water for people working outside can become dehydrated and not really know it. Do a internet search on layering up. There are hundreds of sites telling how, and what materials. You could spend hundreds of dollars for some of the high tech materials, so do a search so that you dont spend too much on your clothing. Hope you have fun and enjoy Ohio.

 

[gtxl1200]

somebody doesnt watch the neww it doesnt snow anymore something called global warming.

I live 4 hours north of Columbus in Michigan and were lucky to get snow at all anymore. good luck with that in Ohio. the best place for lake effect snow in OHio is Cleveland didnt they get 6or7 feet of snow last year?

 

[Speargirl]

I don't mind driving 3 to 4 hours to see snow. I drive at least 100 miles one way just to go shopping at a mall. It looks like we will be their Dec 22 until the 29th maybe a few days off depending on the flight schedule. I'm going to pick us up some thermal undies and some thick socks I don't think we can buy nice warm coats here, so I might have to call on another friend here on SB that has offered us some outter wear for the boys. Anything going on besides Santa during that time?
Thanks for all your help.

 

[pcarlson1911]

Gtxl is correct, the most reliale place in ohio for snow is Cleveland. More specifically, North and east of cleveland in lake and Geauga counties. These areas tend to recieve heavylake effect snow. When cleveland proper recieves 1-2" Chardon could recieve 12-18". This is great for diving. My plow truck pays for the dive gear and trips......

If you are really after snow, a better bet is Erie,PA. 90 minutes east of cleveland. When Chardon is getting 12-18, Erie is most likely getting 24-36. Erie has already pushed snow twice this year....

Where ever you are in ohio, if the temperatures are below freezing for an extended period, a ski area will be making snow. You can drive toa ski area and play in the snow for free. Some areas also offer tubing where youcan ride an inner tube down the slopes.

Don't forget to bring yuor dive gear, we will be diving then....

 

[Speargirl]

Got our tickets last night will be flying in on the Dec 23rd and departing on the 31st. Flying into Columbus airport getting a car and off we goooooooo.......:wave-smil to find the snow.
Whats really funny is the boys are fishing this morning with shorts and no shirts or shoes. It won't be like that in one month
Becky

 

[eriediver2002]

I live an hour southwest of Buffalo. About halfway between buff & erie pa. right on lake erie (in the middle of one of the biggest snow belts). Snow is hit or miss. Buff. got a snow storm Oct. 12th last year than it was clear till the 2nd week of Jan. As someone mentioned Lake Erie is a beautiful sight when frozen over, but that don't happen till late Jan. early Feb. if at all, & I don't think it'll freeze this year unless it get's unusally cold. Lake is still 5 - 10 degrees above normal right now. However it is snowing right now.

 

[Steve_Dives]

I'm in Dayton, about 2 hours west of Columbus. I'll be in Cleveland for a few days at Christmas. I'll offer to meet your gang somewhere, and might even be able to drag along a few other locals! Meeting SB'ers is always cool.

Weather really is variable. It could be 70 or we could have 18 inches of snow. A couple of my buddies are hoping to try ice diving for the first time this year, so we've probably jinxed any hope you have of seeing snow! Sorry about that, but we really didn't know.

If it's cold the ski places will be making snow. Cleveland, particularly to the east can get lake effect. I'm typically south of the city, and we might not get anything, only to see the east side getting dumped on.

 

[Speargirl]

Well be all over Ohio. Coming in around 11:30 thats what our flight plans say. Getting a car and than off looking for snow. I plan to have alot of google maps/map quest withh us so we don't get lost.LOL I am praying for snow everyday and night, I know this is probably not what you guys want to hear but if we could just see snow and play in it that would make my boys Christmas wish come true. I myself could not imagine a 10 and 8 year old giving up Christmas morning and santa just to see snow. But if you ever get the pleasure of meeting them you would understand they are like two mini adults running aound in kids clothes.LOL They are my pride and joy and if I can give them this...... That makes me "the best mom in the world" and that's all I try to be to them.
So if everyone could say a little prayer for snow from Dec 23rd till 30th that would be great.
Oh yeah.. I am not crazy enough to go diving in ice water yet, I'm a little spoiled with the tropical waters here in the Florida Keys. Sorry
But if anybody wants to meet up somewhere that would be great. I love to meet people from SB it's like we are all one big family.
Becky