As Clevelanders brace for a frigid weekend, the National Weather Service (NWS) in Cleveland provides an outlook of gradually improving conditions. According to their NWS Area Forecast Discussion, lake effect snow showers are expected to wane as high pressure builds in for Sunday, offering a brief respite before the next system arrives.
On Saturday morning, northwest winds were driving lake effect snow, which, "mostly cellular in nature," had a couple of stronger bands reaching ashore. NWS leaned on models like the NAM, which suggested that Lake Michigan's contribution to northeast Ohio's lake effect snow would soon diminish. "Snow intensity should wane somewhat when this happens, but some moderate squalls here and there today remain possible," reported the NWS. Temperatures were projected to be 2-5 degrees Fahrenheit colder than the previous day, with widespread teens expected through the night.
Looking ahead, an upper-level trough is set to bring a low-pressure system and another round of snow on Monday, mainly affecting areas south of the Great Lakes. While most impactful snowfall is forecasted to remain to the south, the NWS Cleveland forecasts "most of the area to see some snowfall" with the highest accumulations south of US 30.
As we progress into the week, northerly flows are anticipated to bring more lake effect snow, primarily across the primary snowbelt region. Here, temperatures could drop even further. "Low temperatures Sunday settle in the upper teens to lower 20s before dropping into the teens with wind chills in the single digits by Monday and Tuesday night," noted the NWS. Meanwhile, mariners should remain cautious, with small craft advisories in effect until Sunday afternoon across central and eastern basins, due to strong northwesterly winds leading to significant wave heights.
For aviation, there's an expectation for improving conditions with reduced snow shower coverage after the morning hours. However, airports like CLE and ERI may still encounter ongoing snow showers for several more hours. As the lake effect event winds down, VFR conditions will become more prevalent by Sunday evening.
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