Akron, OH – Lake-effect snow continues to impact Northeast Ohio and Northwest Pennsylvania tonight as several counties remain under Winter Weather Advisories, with forecasters warning of slick roads, reduced visibility, and bursts of moderate to heavy snow through Friday.
According to the National Weather Service in Cleveland, Summit, Portage, and Trumbull Counties will see the highest impacts overnight into Friday. Additional snow accumulations of 3 to 6 inches are expected—mainly across the northern halves of each county—while winds gusting up to 35 mph may rapidly reduce visibility within passing snow bands. The advisory remains in effect until 7 p.m. Friday.
NWS forecasters say the heaviest snow will arrive tonight into early Friday, with snow bands sagging south from Lake Erie. Rates may exceed 1 inch per hour, with localized higher totals possible across northern Portage and northern/central Trumbull Counties. If heavier, more persistent bands develop, the NWS notes that a Lake Effect Snow Warning could still become necessary.
Along the shoreline, the Ashtabula Lakeshore was downgraded from a Lake Effect Snow Warning to a Winter Weather Advisory, with an additional 1 to 4 inches expected through Friday evening. Winds may gust up to 45 mph, increasing the risk of blowing snow and brief whiteouts.
Across the state line, Northern Erie County, PA has also been downgraded to an advisory, though 2 to 5 inches are still expected, primarily tonight. The advisory runs through 1 a.m. Saturday.
The Ohio Department of Transportation and PennDOT urge motorists to exercise extreme caution, noting rapidly changing conditions typical of lake-effect events. Drivers should monitor OHGO and 511PA for updated travel conditions.
