As Cleveland braces for another bout of winter weather, the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a forecast that outlines the potential for a messy mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain starting Wednesday afternoon. A discussion by NWS Cleveland indicates that a weak cold front moving south of Lake Erie tonight sets the stage for a low-pressure system tracking from the Gulf Coast to northern Ohio by Wednesday night, and onward into southern Quebec by Thursday.
Travelers and commuters in the region should be alert, as the incoming system is expected to bring "impactful weather to a portion of the area," according to the NWS. While the initial onset in southern Ohio may just see low chances of snow extending north, the real concern begins Wednesday with the low-pressure system's approach. A ridge extending from high pressure near the East Coast today does little to stave off the inclement weather slated to wrap around an inverted surface trough extending through the Tennessee Valley. As temperatures on Wednesday are expected to start off in the upper teens to mid-20s, the morning rush may see some light freezing drizzle in the south as precipitation begins before deeper moisture arrives aloft in the afternoon.
The potential for light snow before mixing with sleet/freezing rain, then changing to plain rain as the mercury rises, could have significant impacts. With a particular focus east of I-71, the forecast anticipates a "30-40 knot low level jet" to precede a marked warming aloft, which might not make it down to surface levels immediately, suggesting a "brief window of freezing rain/sleet is possible for much of the area before changing to rain." However, snow and sleet could linger to the west, with "a mix taking longer to arrive," according to the NWS Cleveland, revealing a stark gradient across the region regarding precipitation type and accumulation.
A Winter Storm Watch is in effect from Wednesday afternoon through Thursday morning for parts of the region, including Lucas County, OH. Forecasters are seeing "storm total snow/sleet values of 2 to 2 and a half inches across Lucas County," with up to an inch and a half across Wood and Ottawa counties. They warn of possible ice accumulations, especially along and northwest of Hancock to eastern Ottawa counties. The impacts could be significantly heightened for Lucas County, "especially if QPF and snow/ice amounts trend higher in future updates," the National Weather Service notes.
Looking ahead, the NWS forecast warns of another precipitation event starting late Friday night into Saturday as a warm front headed north in response to a developing surface low over the Lower Mississippi and Tennessee valleys. As this low-pressure system crosses the Ohio Valley Saturday night, it could bring periods of moderate rain, possibly transitioning to snow on Sunday. It's a forecast situation that keeps meteorologists on their toes and mandates that Clevelanders remain prepared for rapidly changing weather conditions.
.jpg){kind=link}