National Weather Service Forecast for: Lancaster, OH Issued by: National Weather Service Wilmington, OH

Updated: 4:00 pm EST Jan 20, 2026

This Afternoon Sunny Wednesday Chance Light Snow Thursday Mostly Sunny Friday Partly Sunny Saturday Mostly Cloudy then Chance Light Snow Sunday Snow Likely Monday Slight Chance Light Snow then Partly Sunny   Hi 20 °F Hi 38 °F Hi 35 °F Hi 19 °F Hi 14 °F Hi 20 °F Hi 21 °F     Tonight Partly Cloudy Wednesday Night Slight Chance Rain And Snow then Scattered Snow Showers Thursday Night Mostly Cloudy Friday Night Mostly Cloudy Saturday Night Snow Likely Sunday Night Slight Chance Light Snow Monday Night Partly Cloudy   Lo 12 °F Lo 27 °F Lo 14 °F Lo 2 °F Lo 9 °F Lo 5 °F Lo 5 °F

Forecast from NOAA-NWS for Lancaster, OH.

560
FXUS61 KILN 201854
AFDILN

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Wilmington OH
154 PM EST Tue Jan 20 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Slight increase to snow chances Sat/Sun.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Light precipitation and gusty winds expected Wednesday.

2) Very cold conditions expected Friday through early next week, with
snow possible Saturday into Sunday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

KEY MESSAGE 1) Light precipitation and gusty winds expected
Wednesday.

Surface high pressure currently over the region will move to the east
tonight and into Wednesday. There will be a tightening pressure
gradient on the back side of the surface high, as a weak area of low
pressure also moves east through the lower peninsula of Michigan. In
warm advection flow, wind gusts of 20-30 knots appear likely, with
at least some chance of getting a few gusts to 35 knots, especially
in the northern CWA.

While moisture will be lacking, forcing associated with a shortwave
and right entrance region of a jet streak will eventually lead to
boundary layer saturation and precipitation. While much of this will
be in the form of snow, temperatures will probably be warm enough
for rain to mix in across parts of the CWA, particularly the south
and southeast. Overall precipitation amounts are fairly light across
the suite of models, suggesting little if any snow accumulation will
occur. The depth of the moisture is limited, and does not coincide
with the DGZ.

Later Wednesday night, most of the forcing will be moving east, but
low-level moisture and a mixed boundary layer may keep chances for
light precipitation going for a while. This forecast will at least
keep flurries in for part of the area through evening and into the
overnight. There is definitely a chance that flurries or light snow
showers could continue later in time than what is currently
indicated in the forecast, possibly into Thursday morning. As a cold
front moves into the area, there is also a chance for some
additional gusty winds Wednesday night into Thursday morning.

KEY MESSAGE 2) Very cold conditions expected Friday through early
next week, with snow possible Saturday into Sunday.

There is high confidence in another period of very cold temperatures
from Friday through Monday of next week, although confidence is lower
in the exact magnitude of the cold, and whether Cold Weather Advisory
criteria will be met. Regardless of specific values, this will be
another several-day period with temperatures well below normal, with
low temperatures in the single digits, and highs that will remain
well below freezing. From a synoptic standpoint, the coldest
temperatures appear likely to be Friday night / Saturday morning.
Temperatures could end up colder than currently forecast for later
days, depending on snow cover after the Saturday night system.

The snow forecast with the Saturday night system remains low
confidence for the ILN CWA, which will be on the northern end of the
precipitation footprint associated with this system. With that said,
confidence is fairly high that some snow will occur -- virtually all
guidance brings accumulating snow to much (if not all) of the ILN
CWA, and the cold temperatures mean that the p-type is settled.
Looking at the array of GEFS members, it is interesting to note that
the 12Z deterministic GFS is a massive outlier to the south and
keeps much of the ILN CWA dry, while there is at least some snow on
virtually every other member. Thus, the deterministic GFS does not
seem like a reasonable solution at this time. With that said, the
spread in ensemble guidance remains very high, reflecting the
uncertainty in how far north the plume of moisture will be able to
make it, and perhaps also dependent on the degree of amplification of
the upper pattern over the Ohio Valley. Given that this snowfall is
out on Day 5 into Day 6, forecast uncertainty is expected and normal.
PoPs for snow have been increased through this time period, but still
appears too early to discuss specific amounts based on the confidence
level at this phase of the forecast process.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
VFR conditions are expected today, with some high clouds moving in
later in the afternoon and evening. WSW winds will generally be
around 10 knots, though up to 15 knots at times.

Overnight, LLWS will enter the forecast for all TAF sites. Conditions
will remain VFR.

Tomorrow, winds out of the SSW will strengthen, with gusts of 20-25
knots likely, and possibly up to 30 knots. By mid to late morning,
some light snow will be possible at all TAF sites, but coverage and
magnitude of the snow is somewhat uncertain. This will be handled by
a PROB30 for now, with MVFR conditions associated. It is also
possible that instead of snow, some light rain could occur instead.
Regardless, ceiling are expected to lower to MVFR by around 18Z.

OUTLOOK...MVFR to IFR conditions are expected Wednesday afternoon
through Thursday morning. There is a chance of snow Saturday night
and Sunday, and if snow occurs, IFR conditions would be likely.

&&

.ILN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OH...None.
KY...None.
IN...None.

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...Hatzos
AVIATION...Hatzos

NWS ILN Office Area Forecast Discussion