Updated: 11/20/2009 11:49:22 AM Posted: 11/20/2009 11:45:25 AM
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Brrr! The National Weather Service is raising the bar for what it will consider a snow "storm" in 17 central and western counties.
The forecasters will now post a winter storm warning for an area that includes Dayton, Columbus only if 6 inches or more are likely to fall within a 12-hour period.
The zone's previous snowstorm threshold was 4 inches.
Weather service meteorologist Mary Jo Parker in Wilmington says the agency wants to save the storm designation for winter weather that could produce life-threatening conditions.
Areas across northern Ohio, including Toledo and Cleveland, already had the heavier snow requirement for a winter storm.
Warnings for southern Ohio will still be made at the 4-inch level.
© 2010 The Associated Press
