A Winter Storm Warning has been issued for this weekend across the area by the National Weather Service. The warning emphasizes that travel could be difficult over the weekend with significant snow, low temperatures and wind chill.
The warning is in effect until 10 a.m. Sunday.
Snow
Snow will be heavy at times Saturday afternoon and evening, with total accumulations of 8 to 11 inches possible through Sunday morning, according to the NWS. The heavest snow will fall from late Saturday into Sunday evening. The system will depart to the East Coast by Sunday and lake effect snows will develop in the secondary snow belt Sunday morning into Sunday night.
Wind
In addition to the potential for heavy snow, northeast winds will gust as high as 35 mph, with the strongest winds across Northwest Ohio and near Lake Erie, according to the NWS. Blowing and drifting of snow is expected by Saturday night.
Cold
Much colder air will arrive behind this system on Sunday, with wind chill values falling to between 0 degrees and minus 15 degrees Sunday night. These wind chills could result in hypothermia if precautions are not taken.
Travel
Travel could be very difficult throughout the weekend, the NWS states. Expect wet surfaces to freeze Sunday and Sunday night as temperatures plunge into the single digits.
Location
The specific areas under this Winter Storm Watch include: Erie, Lorain, Cuyahoga, Lake, Geauga, Ashtabula Inland, Huron, Medina, Summit, Portage, Trumbull, Richland, Ashland, Wayne, Ashtabula Lakeshore, Northern Erie, Southern Erie and Crawford areas. It also includes the cities of Sandusky, Lorain, Cleveland, Mentor, Chardon, Jefferson, Norwalk, Medina, Akron, Ravenna, Warren, Mansfield, Ashland, Wooster, Ashtabula, Erie, Edinboro, and Meadville.
