Honestly, if you're waking up in Dayton today, Saturday, January 17, 2026, the first thing you're going to notice isn't the snow. It's the bite.
We’re currently sitting right in the middle of a "clipper" system swinging across the Great Lakes, and while it's not a full-blown blizzard, it’s definitely enough to make your morning coffee run feel like a trek across the tundra. Right now, it’s a crisp 25°F outside. But that’s the "official" number. Thanks to a steady 9 mph wind coming out of the west, the "feels like" temperature is actually hovering around 16°F.
Bundle up. Seriously.
The Saturday Breakdown
Basically, the story for today is "cloudy with a side of flakes." We’re looking at a high of 35°F, which sounds almost manageable until you realize the humidity is sitting at 57%. That damp cold has a way of soaking right through a light jacket.
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You’ve probably seen some grey skies already. That’s not changing much. We’ve got a 35% chance of snow during the daytime hours. We aren't talking about shoveling out your driveway for three hours—most estimates from the National Weather Service suggest we'll see less than a half-inch of total accumulation. It’s more of that annoying, blowing dust snow that makes the roads just slick enough to be frustrating.
The wind is going to kick up a bit as the day goes on, too. Expect southwest winds around 13 mph, which will keep that chill factor front and center.
What Happens When the Sun Goes Down?
Nighttime brings a little bit of a shift. The clouds are expected to break up slightly, moving into "partly cloudy" territory, but don't let that fool you into thinking it's getting warmer. The temperature is going to plummet to a low of 14°F.
If you're heading out to the Oregon District or catching a movie, keep in mind:
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- The precipitation chance drops to 15%.
- The wind stays persistent.
- The UV index is a big fat zero, so no need for the shades unless you're blocking the wind.
Looking Toward the Rest of the Weekend
If you were hoping for a massive warmup for Sunday, I've got some bad news. Tomorrow, January 18, is actually going to stay colder than today, with a high of only 23°F. We’re looking at light snow throughout the day, though the chance is relatively low at 10%.
The real "fun" starts Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day. While it’ll be sunny, the high is only hitting 18°F with a low of 7°F. That is "stay inside and order Pizza High Five" kind of weather.
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Why This Matters for Your Plans
Daytonians are used to this, but this specific clipper is dragging in some particularly dry, cold air behind it. If you’re planning on hitting the MetroParks Ice Rink at RiverScape, it’s actually perfect weather for the ice, but you’ll want those heavy-duty thermal layers.
On the driving front, I-75 and US-35 shouldn't be a disaster, but bridge decks are going to freeze first. Since we’re only looking at minor snow totals, the salt trucks will likely be out in force, but that 16-degree wind chill means the salt takes a little longer to work its magic.
Survival Tips for Today
- Layer like an onion. Thermal base, fleece mid-layer, wind-resistant outer shell. The west wind is the real enemy today.
- Check your tires. Cold snaps like this cause tire pressure to drop faster than a stone. If that light is on, don't ignore it.
- Pet safety. If it’s too cold for you to stand outside in a t-shirt for ten minutes, it’s too cold for your dog to be out there without some paw protection or a quick limit on their business trip.
The weather today in Dayton Ohio is a classic January mixed bag. It’s cold, it’s grey, and it’s very "Ohio." But hey, at least we aren't dealing with the 7-degree lows scheduled for Tuesday night.
Keep your windshield fluid topped off—the road grime from the light snow and salt mix is going to be thick today. If you're heading out, give yourself an extra five minutes to defrost. It's better than scraping a tiny hole in the ice and hoping for the best.