CLEVELAND, Ohio — Snow and blowing snow disrupted travel Friday along Interstate 90 from Lorain County through downtown Cleveland to the Pennsylvania line, where 2 to 4 inches of snow accumulated between early Friday morning and 1 a.m. Saturday, sharply slowing the region’s primary east-west commuter corridor.
The National Weather Service in Cleveland kept a Winter Weather Advisory in effect through early Saturday, citing a morning period of light to moderate snow followed by a brief afternoon break. Forecasters warned conditions would deteriorate again by evening as snow showers and squalls redevelop with wind gusts reaching 45 miles per hour, triggering blowing and drifting snow.
The Ohio Department of Transportation warned that gusty winds would reduce visibility and increase braking distances, especially during the Friday evening commute. Crews continued treating major routes, but bursts of snow were expected to outpace plowing at times.
Hazardous travel stretched well beyond the lakeshore. Along Interstate 90 and United States Route 20, slick conditions hit Lorain, Avon Lake, Cleveland, Mentor, Painesville, Geneva, Ashtabula, and Conneaut. South of the lake, Interstate 71 and Route 42 deteriorated near Medina, Brunswick, Ashland, and Mansfield, while Route 8 and Interstate 77 turned slick through Akron, Stow, Kent, Canton, and Massillon. Higher terrain in the snowbelt, including Chardon, Middlefield, Burton, and Andover, picked up locally heavier snow as winds piled it into drifts.
Drivers were urged to slow down, allow extra stopping distance, and avoid unnecessary travel Friday night. The advisory expires early Saturday, with winds easing overnight and gradual improvement expected later Saturday morning as snow tapers off.
