The National Weather Service in Cleveland has updated the forecast for Northeast Ohio and Northwest Pennsylvania as of this morning, detailing a shift in weather patterns for the region. According to the NWS Area Forecast Discussion, low pressure over the eastern Great Lakes is expected to merge with a developing surface low off the New England Coast today. A surface trough will land across the eastern Great Lakes through Saturday, with high pressure slated to build into the Ohio Valley by Sunday. However, this will be short-lived, as another potent low-pressure system is projected to affect the region again by Monday and Tuesday.
The lake effect snow showers that hit parts of Northeast Ohio and Northwest Pennsylvania have ceased. Having made only minor adjustments to the forecast, the National Weather Service anticipates "no changes to the overall forecast or weather impacts that are expected today into this evening." As the winds shift from southwesterly to northwesterly, the area will experience a gradual temperature rise into the lower to middle 40s later this morning, transitioning remaining snow showers into rain showers from north to south.
The weather pattern has induced a low-pressure system to deepen near the New England Coast, leading to heightened winds in the region through tonight. This weather shift is expected to result in moisture-laden north-northwesterly flow culminating in lake effect rain showers across Northeast Ohio and Northwest Pennsylvania through Saturday. While no wintry precipitation is anticipated due to warmer temperatures, areas may still see heavy rain showers, particularly later today and into the night. "Average QPF for the snowbelt area of NEOH and NWPA will likely be up to 1.0" to isolated 1.5" of rainfall through Saturday," the National Weather Service reported.
According to the NWS, aviation-related weather impacts are expected to commence this morning, with conditions starting at low-end MVFR but descending into IFR. With ceilings likely to drop below 1000 feet between 15z to 18z today, aviators must brace for less ideal conditions, particularly in Northeast Ohio and Northwest Pennsylvania. "These showers as well as misty conditions will continue this afternoon into overnight with reduction to visibility between 2sm and 5sm for much of the TAF period across NEOH and NWPA," was stated in the forecast from the National Weather Service. Notably, gusty northwest winds are set to intensify markedly later today, with potential gusts reaching up to 35 knots along the lakeshore.
Marine conditions will also be rough, with a Gale Watch in effect for the central basin, where northwest winds could potentially increase to around 30 knots with significant wave heights. The western and eastern basins are under Small Craft Advisories. Following this period, winds are forecasted to diminish on Saturday before going southwesterly on Sunday into Monday. With the anticipated cold solid front late on Monday, the maritime community should prepare for a brusque shift in weather conditions.
.jpg){kind=link}