Ohio School Delays Today: Heavy fog disrupts morning commute as the US winter forecast warns of major weather changes ahead

Heavy fog is causing a disrupted start to Monday for students and families across parts of Ohio, with several schools delaying classes and two districts closing for the day. The latest school update, posted at 7:55 a.m. on October 12, lists a mix of one-hour and two-hour delays, along with changes to preschool schedules. Drivers in Kentucky and Indiana have also been urged to take care on the roads while fog limits visibility, as per a report by Hometown Station and WDRB Wave.

The fog is expected to lift later in the morning, bringing a sunnier afternoon and temperatures in the mid-80s. At the same time, forecasters are looking ahead to a winter that could bring very different conditions to different parts of the country.

Which Schools Are Delayed or Closed Today

Two-hour delays have been announced at several schools including Ada Schools, Allen East Schools, Apollo Career Center, Bath Local Schools, Coldwater Schools, Columbus Grove Schools, Crestview Schools, Delphos City Schools, Elida Schools, Fort Jennings Schools, Fort Loramie Schools, Lima City Schools, Shawnee Schools, Spencerville Schools and St. Marys City Schools.

Other schools affected by the delays include Delphos St. John's, Heir Force Community School, Liberty Christian School, Lincolnview Schools, Marion Local Schools, New Bremen Schools, New Knoxville Schools, Ottawa-Glandorf Schools, Perry Schools, Riverside Schools and Vantage Career Center.

Bible Believers Christian School and Pilgrim Christian School have announced one-hour delays. Creative Discovery Preschool has a changed morning schedule, while some other preschool programs have separate arrangements. Riverside Schools will have no morning preschool, and The Preschool at Allentown has also cancelled its morning session.

Wapakoneta City Schools and Waynesfield-Goshen Schools are closed on Monday. West Central Learning Academy's building will open at 9:15 a.m.

Families should check their school's latest announcement for details, especially where preschool schedules differ from regular classes.

When Will the Fog Clear

Meteorologist Hunter Clouser's Sunday evening forecast warned of dense fog during the morning commute in Kentucky and Indiana. Conditions are expected to improve as the fog disperses, with sunshine returning in the afternoon and highs reaching the mid-80s.

Until visibility improves, drivers are being asked to use caution. The fog is expected to be mainly a morning concern, but it has already prompted schedule changes for schools in the affected areas.

US cold weather forecast winter

Beyond Monday's fog, AccuWeather has released its winter forecast for December 2026 through April 2027. The outlook points to warmer-than-average conditions across the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes, including Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Temperatures in the Great Lakes region are expected to average around three degrees above historical levels.

That could mean fewer opportunities for lake-effect snow and lower heating demand across the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley and Northeast.

“The heating demand across the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley and Northeast will be much less compared to 2025 based on our forecast,” AccuWeather meteorologist Paul Pastelok said.

The forecast is different for parts of the Southwest and south-central Plains, where colder-than-average conditions are expected. Storms, rain and widespread cloud cover could keep temperatures down and raise the risk of dangerous weather.

“A few severe weather events can occur across parts of the Southeast and mid-Atlantic with the potential for tornadoes,” Pastelok said.

Frequent rain could also have longer-term effects on rivers in the Tennessee and lower Mississippi valleys.

Could a Powerful El Niño Change Winter Weather

The forecast comes as the World Meteorological Organization expects a potentially powerful El Niño to reach peak intensity by early 2027. According to the latest forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, there is a 75 percent chance that it will become the strongest El Niño since records began in 1950, as per a report by Men's Journal.

The Sierra Nevada Mountains and Southern Rockies are expected to see the most snowfall after a notably dry winter last year. However, the NOAA outlook differs from AccuWeather's forecast for Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, where temperatures are expected to stay closer to normal.

For Ohio families, the immediate issue is getting through Monday's foggy morning safely and keeping up with school schedule changes. The winter outlook is a separate concern, with forecasters predicting a mix of warmer temperatures, colder spells, rain and snowfall across the United States.