Winter Storm Fern

Updated: 7:05 am on Monday, 26 January 2026

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Clinton County Weather & Statewide Impact Update As of 12:14 PM — Sunday, January 25

Ohio remains under the effects of Winter Storm Fern, and while much of the attention locally is focused on Clinton County, there are significant impacts unfolding across the state and in parts of the South. Below is a prioritized update, starting with Clinton County and local communities, followed by statewide conditions and regional impacts.

Clinton County — Local Status & Impacts

Clinton County remains under a Level 2 Snow Emergency, meaning roadways are hazardous and travel should be limited unless necessary.

Active Watches, Warnings, & Advisories

• Winter Storm Warning through January 26 at 12:00 PM EST

• Cold Weather Advisory from January 26 at 12:00 AM to 6:00 PM EST

• Extreme Cold Warning from January 26 at 6:00 PM to January 27 at 12:00 PM EST

Countywide & Community Updates

Clinton County (County Government)

• Local government offices will be closed Monday due to weather.

• Clinton County Health District office will be CLOSED Monday, January 26, 2026 due to the weather. If you need immediate assistance, feel free to reach out via email- info@clincohd.com - we're still here to help remotely!

• Clinton County Board of Health Meeting is rescheduled to Monday, February 2, 2026 at 9:00 am.

Wilmington

• Municipal offices closed Monday, January 26

• Wilmington Transit closed Monday, January 26

• Wilmington Walmart will be closing at 4pm Sunday (January 25) due to weather conditions!

• Wilmington City Schools are closed Monday, January 26

• WCS Board meeting is rescheduled for Thursday, 1/29/26 at 4:00 pm at the Board Office.

• Wilmington Christian Academy closed Monday, January 26

• Laural Oaks Career Campus closed Monday, January 26

Blanchester

• Residents urged to stay off roads unless travel is for emergencies

• Village Snow Emergency remains in effect: Vehicles parked in restricted areas WILL BE towed to allow snow removal

• Blanchester School District closed Monday, January 26

• Due to inclement weather, all non-essential village services will be closed Monday. Emergency services will remain fully operational.

Clarksville

• Clinton-Massie Schools closed Monday, January 26 (Snow Day)

New Vienna

• Family Dollar closed until further notice due to weather and travel hazards

• New Vienna Library closed for business on Monday, January 26

Sabina

• Sabina Public Library closed for business on Monday, January 26

• East Clinton Schools will be closed on Monday, January 26.

Martinsville, Midland, Sabina, Port William

• No new impacts reported at this time

Snow Emergency Levels Across Ohio

As of this afternoon:

Source: Ohio News & Weather https://belparkmedia.com/snow-emergencies/

• Level 3 Snow Emergency — 51 counties (Includes Fayette and Highland Counties)

• Level 2 Snow Emergency — 25 counties (Includes Clinton County)

• Level 1 Snow Emergency — 2 counties

• 9 counties do not issue Snow Emergency levels

Level 3 counties face the most hazardous travel conditions, with roads considered unsafe except for emergency travel.

Statewide Conditions — Ohio Impact Overview

Widespread snow has ended in most areas as Winter Storm Fern has exited the state. Additional snowfall of 1-3” is expected in northeast Ohio today. The most critical concerns are road safety under Level 3 Snow Emergencies, the continued restoration of water service in Morrow County, and an extended period of wind chill values near or below zero for the state. A significant portion of the state is under an Extreme Cold Warning until 12:00 PM on Tuesday. Local entities have opened warming centers in multiple counties. A significant number of schools and businesses have closed for the day due to the hazardous driving conditions still present across the state. Approximately 3,500 customers in Morrow County remain under a boil advisory after a watermain break, with water starting to return to the system as it regains pressure. A Statewide Emergency Declaration was issued by Governor DeWine, and Montgomery County has declared a state of emergency.

Key Statewide Concerns

• Transportation disruptions due to snow and ice

• Localized water system failures

• Communications interruptions

• Warming centers opened in multiple counties to support vulnerable populations

• No county emergency declarations issued statewide at this time

• No resource requests pending as of this update

Water System Impacts

Morrow County

• Multiple water main breaks repaired; low pressure water has started to run again in the system as the water tank continues to refill. Water pressure is expected to increase as the tank regains pressure. 3,500 customers remain under a boil advisory for the next 24-48 hours after full pressurization is reached. OP3 continues assisting in sourcing bottled water for distribution.

ODOT Operations & Road Conditions (Statewide)

Ohio Department of Transportation continues full snow and ice operations:

• ODOT currently has 1,242 crews working with 179,380 miles driven in the last 24 hours and 14,391 miles driven in the last two hours. ODOT also has 400,000 tons of salt in stock.

District Highlights

• Districts 1–3, 5, 7-12: No closures, no significant issues.

• District 4: Mahoning 682 at Turnpike is closed. A semi struck the toll booth, flipped onto its side, and is blocking all ramp lanes of travel. Tow company still working to remove the semi-truck as of 4:00 am. In Portage County, a driver went left of center on State Route 14 at mile marker 15 and struck a plow truck. No injuries reported, and OSP is on scene.

• District 6: All of US 40 is closed in both directions just West of Alton (near the Madison/Franklin border) due to a large structure fire.

Regional & Southern State Impacts — Ice Storm Effects

A significant ice storm across the Southern United States is causing widespread infrastructure damage, power outages, and travel disruptions, with impacts expected to persist for days or longer due to continued cold and the complexity of restoration.

Notable Southern Impacts

• Hundreds of thousands to over one million power outages, with Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Kentucky, Georgia, and Alabama among the hardest hit as ice brings down trees and power lines

• Severe ice accumulation across parts of the Lower Mississippi Valley and Southeast, slowing restoration efforts and increasing safety risks

• Widespread road closures and dangerous travel, with emergency officials urging residents to stay off ice-covered roads due to high crash risk

• Heavy strain on utility crews, with some providers warning restoration could take multiple days to weeks in heavily damaged areas

• Major airline and freight disruptions, including large-scale flight cancellations and shipping delays, impacting national and regional supply chains

• Storm-related fatalities and cold-exposure incidents reported in several Southern states

Potential Ripple Effects for Ohio and the Midwest

These Southern impacts may delay utility mutual-aid availability, strain regional fuel and propane deliveries, affect grocery and freight logistics, and complicate cross-state emergency resource deployment if restoration demands remain high. Prolonged outages and infrastructure repairs in Southern states could slow regional recovery timelines and reduce available surge capacity.

Residents should:

• Limit travel where possible

• Monitor official local updates

• Prepare for dangerous cold conditions over the next 48 hours

• Check on neighbors, especially older adults and those without reliable heat