As reported by the National Weather Service Cleveland, OH, residents in Cleveland and surrounding areas are bracing for a multi-hazard winter storm set to enter the Great Lakes region. The storm, arriving today, is expected to bring high winds and heavy snow, making travel conditions challenging. Winds are anticipated to reach southwest gusts up to 45 mph ahead of an Arctic front moving into the region this evening. Snowfall is forecasted to commence quickly and heavily, with an inch or two of rapid accumulation, reduced visibility of less than a quarter mile, and wind gusts up to 50 mph.

What's more, conditions are predicted to deteriorate swiftly, beginning around 9 PM in the I-75 corridor of Northwest Ohio and progressing eastward. Although traffic volume will be lighter during the nighttime, the incoming band of heavy snow is expected to impact roadways considerably, potentially requiring further messaging through Special Weather Statements or Snow Squall Warnings, as per NWS Cleveland.

Following the front, lake-effect snow will take hold, particularly impacting Northeast Ohio and Northwest Pennsylvania. Warned by a Lake-Effect Snow Warning, these areas could see accumulations significant enough to impact structures due to the additional stress of heavy snowpack and strong winds. The National Weather Service notes that the snow will be "very dependent on where bands persist" and could involve higher accumulations in higher terrain areas with contributions from other Great Lakes.

Looking at the weekend, high pressure is expected to build from the west, providing a reprieve from severe weather conditions. However, lake effect snow is anticipated to continue, with Erie and Crawford Counties in PA and Ashtabula County, OH, under guidance for persistent conditions until 1 AM Saturday. Along the lakeshore, Gale Warnings and Low Water Advisories have been issued for Lake Erie, alerting mariners of hazardous conditions, described having waves reaching 9-12 feet, indicative of the storm's strength, as explained in the weather bulletin.

Temperatures are set to stay below average for the period, dipping into the teens tonight and only marginally rising on Thursday. By Thursday night, the upper-level trough will have moved east, allowing for a moderation in lake-effect snow and somewhat calmer conditions. However, additional snowfall is still expected, especially in higher-terrain areas. Into the weekend and beyond, fairer weather looks to settle in, giving residents a much-needed break from the storm's fury and the opportunity to recover from its impacts.