CLEVELAND — A gusty and unsettled stretch of weather is moving across northern Ohio, bringing rain, snow and sharply colder temperatures to Cleveland before conditions gradually settle ahead of Christmas Eve.
Thursday features increasing clouds and breezy conditions, with highs climbing into the low 50s. Southerly winds will strengthen through the day, with gusts reaching 40 to 45 mph at times. Rain showers are expected to develop this evening and continue overnight as colder air pours in behind a passing front.
As temperatures drop late tonight, rain is forecast to transition to snow. While widespread heavy accumulation is not expected, brief bursts of snow could reduce visibility and create slick spots, especially on bridges and untreated roads. Overnight lows are expected to fall into the upper 20s, allowing wet pavement to freeze.
Friday remains blustery and colder. Snow showers may linger into the morning before tapering off, followed by mostly cloudy skies. Highs will struggle to reach the lower 30s, with strong west winds keeping wind chills in the teens. Any snow accumulation should remain under an inch, but gusty winds could cause patchy blowing snow.
Conditions improve somewhat Friday night, though it stays cold, with lows near 20 degrees. Saturday brings mostly cloudy skies and a modest rebound in temperatures, with highs near 40. A slight chance of light rain or snow returns Saturday night as another weak system moves through.
Sunday looks quieter and colder, with partial sunshine and highs near the low 30s. Overnight lows dip back into the teens, reinforcing a wintry feel across northeast Ohio.
Looking ahead to the holiday, Christmas Eve falls on Wednesday, and early forecasts point toward a relatively calm setup for Cleveland. While temperatures are expected to remain seasonably cold, there are currently no strong signals for significant rain or snow on Christmas Eve itself. Travel conditions appear favorable compared to the gusty, wintry pattern affecting the region tonight and Friday.
Forecasts may evolve, but after a brief bout of winter weather, Cleveland appears headed toward a quieter stretch as Christmas approaches.
