CLEVELAND, OH — The first true taste of December winter weather will arrive Sunday across northeast Ohio, with light to moderate lake-enhanced snow expected through the day. As cold air flows over Lake Erie, snow bands could drop 1 to 3 inches across parts of Cleveland, Ashtabula, and Geauga counties.
According to the National Weather Service in Cleveland, light snow begins early Sunday morning, increasing in intensity through midday before tapering late Sunday night. Winds from the southwest at 10–15 mph will keep flakes blowing, and visibility may dip below one mile in heavier bursts. Drivers should prepare for slick conditions along I-90, I-71, and Route 2, especially near the lakeshore and east side suburbs.
Temperatures hover in the low to mid-30s Sunday, then fall into the low 20s by Monday morning. Roads that thaw slightly during daylight could refreeze by nightfall, increasing the risk for black ice and morning commute hazards.
Monday turns mostly sunny but cold, with highs around 29°F. The quiet stretch is brief — another system could bring snow showers Tuesday, followed by a rain-to-snow changeover Wednesday, continuing a turbulent early-December trend across the Great Lakes.
Long-range models hint that persistent lake-effect snow may reemerge Dec. 11–17, potentially impacting regional holiday travel for parts of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.
Five-Day Outlook for Cleveland:
- Saturday: Mostly cloudy, high 36°F.
- Sunday: Snow showers likely, high 35°F.
- Monday: Partly sunny, high 29°F.
- Tuesday: Breezy, snow chances, high 38°F.
- Wednesday: Rain/snow mix, high 40°F.
