By Elon Drummer Blog January 26, 2026 | 9:15 AM EST
Franklin County has made history for all the wrong reasons. Sheriff Dallas Baldwin declared a Level 3 Snow Emergency on Jan. 25, marking what is the first legitimate time the county has ever issued such a severe weather alert. The declaration came at 11:37 a.m. as Winter Storm Fern continued to pummel central Ohio with heavy snow and extreme cold temperatures.
The emergency classification means all roadways throughout Franklin County are now closed to everyone except emergency personnel and essential workers. Residents have been urged to stay home unless travel is absolutely necessary or involves a life-threatening personal emergency.
🚨 What the Level 3 Emergency Means for Residents
Under a Level 3 snow emergency—the highest level possible in Ohio—the roads are officially closed to non-essential travel. The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office emphasized that anyone venturing out during these conditions could face serious consequences, including potential arrest. However, Sheriff Baldwin’s office later clarified the enforcement approach to ease public anxiety.
The statement explained that deputies and police officers will use discretion when encountering motorists on the roads. People who have legitimate and necessary reasons to travel—such as medical emergencies or caring for vulnerable family members—should not fear immediate citation. The focus remains on clearing the way for crews and preventing “recreational” driving that clogs snowplow routes.
Essential workers, including hospital staff, first responders, and airport employees, are still expected to report to their jobs if possible. All other employees should contact their employers to determine their status during the emergency conditions.
❄️ Roads Covered in White Across the County
Sheriff Baldwin personally surveyed the roads on the morning of Jan. 25 and described drastically varying conditions throughout the metro area. While some major highways showed signs of treatment, many secondary roads were described as “absolutely horrible.”
By noon Sunday, the sheriff noticed increasing numbers of regular vehicles struggling through the snow-covered streets. The official snowfall total at John Glenn International Airport reached 11.9 inches, making it the fifth-largest snowstorm in Columbus history and tying the record for the snowiest January day ever set in 1910.
When regular vehicles cannot safely traverse the roads, it creates a domino effect:
- Snowplows are forced to navigate around stranded cars.
- Fire trucks and ambulances face life-threatening delays.
- Salt trucks cannot reach the pavement to begin de-icing.
🏗️ Keeping Roads Clear for Emergency Response
The primary goal of the Level 3 declaration is to clear roadways for snowplows and emergency vehicles. Baldwin emphasized that regular motorists blocking roads prevent snow removal crews from doing their jobs effectively.
The decision to declare the Level 3 emergency was not made in a vacuum. It followed collective discussions with multiple agencies, including:
- The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT)
- The Franklin County Engineer’s Office
- The Franklin County EMA & Homeland Security
- The City of Columbus
🌡️ Cold Temperatures Complicate Recovery
Recovery efforts are being hindered by dangerously low temperatures. An Extreme Cold Warning is set to take effect at 6:00 PM tonight, with wind chills expected to reach -25°F.
Baldwin noted that frigid conditions make road treatments like salt significantly less effective. When temperatures drop below 15°F, salt loses its ability to melt ice quickly, requiring crews to use more mechanical plowing and specialized chemical mixtures. These complications suggest the Level 3 emergency could remain in place through much of Monday, Jan. 26.
🏛️ A Rare Event for Central Ohio
Baldwin believes this marks the first legitimate Level 3 snow emergency in Franklin County’s history. While the county typically has the resources and equipment to avoid such drastic measures, Winter Storm Fern’s sheer volume and velocity proved too much.
Historically, former Sheriff Jim Karnes was noted to have accidentally declared a Level 3 emergency in the early 2000s due to a miscommunication error, but 2026 marks the first time the declaration was intentionally triggered by weather conditions.