Ohio — Snow showers thicken quickly along the Lake Erie shoreline as winter reasserts itself across northern Ohio. In Cleveland, conditions are deteriorating fast, with heavy snow, strong winds, and bitter cold lining up for the evening commute.
Winter weather ramps up late this morning and intensifies through tonight. Lake-effect snow develops this evening, bringing periods of steady snowfall and sharply reduced visibility. The National Weather Service expects 6 to 10 inches of snow within the primary snowbelt, including parts of greater Cleveland, with locally higher amounts possible where bands persist.
Outside the snowbelt, lighter accumulations are expected, but even 1 to 2 inches could cause slick travel as temperatures plunge. Snowfall rates may briefly approach 1 inch per hour tonight into early Thursday, increasing the risk of snow-covered roads during peak travel times.
Northwest winds gusting 20 to 30 mph will blow and drift snow, especially along open roadways. Visibility may drop suddenly under heavier bands, creating whiteout-like conditions at times.
Temperatures fall sharply behind the cold front. Overnight lows dip into the teens, while wind chills range from 5°F to as low as -5°F by Thursday morning. Prolonged exposure could lead to frostbite, especially on exposed skin.
A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect through Thursday evening for much of northeast Ohio, while a Lake Effect Snow Warning is posted for nearby northwest Pennsylvania, underscoring the intensity of the snow bands feeding back into the region.
Drivers are urged to slow down, avoid unnecessary travel tonight, and prepare for rapidly changing conditions. Plows may struggle to keep up when snowfall intensifies.
Looking ahead, bitter cold lingers into late week. Another surge of Arctic air is expected this weekend, with wind chills possibly dropping to near or below zero early next week.
