Ohio greets Christmas morning with blurred headlights, damp air, and pockets of mist, setting a cautious tone for holiday travel across Greater Cleveland.
Early temperatures sit in the upper 30s, with fog and light mist reducing visibility in spots, especially near the lakeshore and low-lying areas. Roads remain mostly wet for now, but visibility may change quickly for drivers heading out early.
Conditions stay relatively quiet through the day. Skies remain mostly cloudy, and highs reach the low 40s, keeping travel manageable for Christmas plans. For now, winter hazards remain limited.
Attention shifts quickly to Friday.
The National Weather Service highlights a freezing rain risk early Friday, as precipitation arrives while temperatures hover near freezing. Even a brief period of freezing rain could create slick travel conditions on untreated roads, bridges, and ramps before temperatures rise enough for plain rain.
By afternoon, rain becomes more likely, and surface temperatures climb into the low 40s, easing icing concerns. Still, the morning window may pose problems for commuters and post-Christmas travelers.
The weekend stays unsettled but milder. Saturday remains mostly cloudy with highs near 40 degrees. Rain chances return Sunday, bringing widespread wet roads during daytime travel.
Behind that system, colder air presses in. Forecast data shows rain possibly mixing with snow late Sunday night, followed by colder, windier conditions. By Monday, highs fall into the upper 30s, with snow chances increasing and winter firmly reasserting itself.
Meteorologists continue tracking stronger winter systems across the Great Lakes and Northeast, reinforcing a colder pattern as December closes.
Plan ahead for changing conditions. Slow down in fog this morning, allow extra time Friday, and stay alert for icy patches as Winter Weather ramps up after Christmas.
