Cleveland, OH – A strong cold front is set to move across northern Ohio late Wednesday night into early Thursday, bringing a quick burst of snow followed by a sharp and potentially dangerous drop in temperatures.
According to the National Weather Service in Cleveland, a band of snow showers will develop along the front overnight, with the greatest impacts expected between midnight and Thursday morning. While most areas outside of the snowbelt will see only up to a half-inch of snow, localized 1 to 3 inches are possible in the snowbelt, with isolated totals up to 4 inches near the lakeshore.
The bigger story will be the cold. Forecasters expect temperatures to fall from the upper 20s into the teens by Thursday morning, reaching single digits by Thursday night as Arctic air surges into the region. Wind chills will make conditions feel even colder during the Thursday morning commute.
Drivers across northeast Ohio are urged to prepare for rapidly changing road conditions and reduced visibility in bursts of snow. Untreated roads may quickly become slick, especially on bridges and overpasses.
Communities most affected include Cleveland, Mentor, Ashtabula, Elyria, and Akron, with light snow possible as the front passes and steadier lake-effect snow developing east of Cleveland through Thursday.
The cold pattern is expected to persist into Friday before temperatures slowly rebound this weekend. Residents should check heating systems, bring pets indoors, and dress in layers when outdoors.
