Cleveland, OH – A powerful burst of early winter weather will grip northern Ohio and western Pennsylvania from Sunday evening through Tuesday, bringing intense lake-effect snow, gusty winds, and potential power outages across the Cleveland-to-Erie corridor.
According to the National Weather Service in Cleveland, a Winter Storm Watch remains in effect for Lorain, Cuyahoga, Lake, Geauga, Ashtabula, Summit, Medina, Portage, and Trumbull counties, along with Erie and Crawford counties in northwest Pennsylvania. The storm could produce 5 to 10 inches of snow, with heavier localized totals beneath persistent snow bands off Lake Erie.
Forecasters warn that snowfall rates may exceed 1 to 2 inches per hour, dropping visibility below a quarter mile at times. Winds gusting above 30 mph will create blowing snow and add stress to tree limbs still holding late fall leaves, increasing the risk of scattered power outages.
Travel could be extremely difficult late Sunday night through Tuesday morning, particularly along I-90, I-80, and I-271 where heavy snow squalls are expected to develop. According to the Ohio Department of Transportation, crews will be pre-treating major routes Sunday, but drivers should prepare for sudden whiteouts and slick stretches that may linger through multiple commutes.
Residents are urged to keep devices charged, avoid nonessential travel during heavy bursts, and secure outdoor items ahead of strong winds. Even short distances could see sharp contrasts between heavy snow and clear skies as lake-effect bands shift.
Cold air will persist through midweek before a brief warming trend returns Wednesday.
