Actions

Lake effect snow gradually ending tonight

News 5 Meteorologist Phil Sakal gives an update on Sunday evening's weather forecast.

By: Katie McGraw

Posted

and last updated

SUNDAY UPDATE:

News 5 has several articles on our website regarding the ongoing Lake Effect storm including our regular forecast page, plus another News articlethat shows pictures and discusses road closures, parking bans, etc. Meanwhile, this article is going to focus on the forecast for the days to come but in greater detail, including updated timing, totals, and impacts to expect.

WATCH
News 5 Meteorologist Phil Sakal gave updates on Sunday evening's lake-effect snow.

SNOW TOTALS: More than 3 feet of snow has already been reported to the NWS across parts of Ashtabula County. Totals have ranged from 5 inches to 40 inches since snow started on Thanksgiving. Lake-effect in a nutshell! Meanwhile, the rest of NEO has seen minimal or no snow. However, we are expecting more snow that will impact a larger area over the next two days. When all is said and done, the storm's total snowfall for this event could be 4 to 6 feet in some communities. There will also still be several counties in our viewing area that receive limited or no snowfall.

ALERTS: The lake-effect snow warning has been extended until Tuesday morning for Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, and Ashtabula Counties. Several inches or even feet of snow will be possible across portions of the warned area.

TIMING: We experienced a brief lull in the intense LES band as southwesterly winds moved it offshore on Saturday, but that break was brief. The band started to sink back to the south Sunday morning and is already dumping snow across Lake and Ashtabula Counties. This time, the snow is expected to move farther inland during this afternoon and evening. Therefore, more accumulation is expected across more communities in the area, including those in eastern Cuyahoga and northern Geauga counties. Heavy lake-effect snow will continue into Tuesday, with snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour at times.

The rest of the viewing area will be cold and breezy, with limited snow. Scroll through the images of Futurecast to get an idea about the timing of lake-effect snow and the potential placement of the LES bands.

TOTALS: The highest accumulations are once again expected along the I-90 corridor and north, with totals quickly decreasing to the south. In Cuyahoga County, the heaviest totals will be on the eastern side, with a massive range of totals across the country, from less than 1 inch to a foot of snow to several inches or even feet of snow. Below is my updated snowfall map as of Sunday morning. This covers additional snowfall on top of what has already fallen since Thanksgiving. It is always important to remember the fickle nature of lake-effect snow, so this map will likely be updated. However, take note of the areas where we expect the highest numbers (along I-90, southern Lake, eastern Cuyahoga, and northern Geauga Counties); numbers will be much lower in southern Geauga County, across western and southern and southern Ashtabula. Also, keep in mind this is a long-duration event and does not end until Tuesday.

IMPACTS: Travel could be very difficult. During lake effect snow, the weather can vary from bands of locally heavy snow to dry weather within just a few miles. Visibility can also vary greatly. Be prepared for rapid changes in weather visibility and road conditions. The snow could also negatively impact the Monday morning and evening commutes. Keep in mind that there are closures along I-90 as well as speed restrictions from Lake County in NW PA and western NY. Visibilities may drop below 1/4 mile due to falling and blowing snow. Whiteout conditions are expected and will make travel treacherous and potentially life-threatening.