Cleveland's winter scene is set for some action as weather experts are flagging a mix of snowfall and gusting winds over the next few days. According to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Cleveland, light to moderate snow has been painting the town white, with areas south of Findlay to Cleveland experiencing visibility drops below one mile. The NWS's recent discussion suggests we're looking at snowfall rates "of a half to three quarters of an inch" in north-central Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania, with heavier snow setup possibly pushing the rate to an inch per hour in places like Columbus and Youngstown.
While the ongoing winter weather event is expected to gradually diminish by this afternoon, Clevelanders should brace themselves for a snowbelt special. The lake is predicted to "really starting to dry" only post 2 PM, yet several high-res models hint at snow showers creeping over Lake Erie due to northerly winds that are projected to sharply decrease temperatures and spike the wind chill. The NWS emphasizes the potential for lake effect snow, particularly in Cleveland's metro area, where today's snow might be accompanied by graupel, a soft hail.
Travel advisories remain key as the NWS opts to keep Winter Weather Advisories in effect. Although it's possible that areas outside the prime snowbelt could see their advisories lifted prematurely depending on conditions, it's clear that surface ridging will build in from the southwest, causing lake flows off Erie to back up and concentrate snow showers near lakeshores.
Looking ahead, NWS warns of a cold front cutting through early Thursday, with plummeting temperatures leading to "5-15 degrees and winds gusting between 20-30 mph, highest in the east." The cold doesn't plan to linger too long as skies should clear Thursday night, leading to a Friday respite. Even with temperatures partly rebounding, the long-term has Clevelanders facing below-normal temperatures with "a broad trough in place across the eastern two-thirds of the country."
For those with air travel in mind, expect IFR to LIFR conditions in the morning. Aviation operations should take heed of Non-VFR conditions lingering around with occasional snow, and intensified caution is advised by Wednesday evening and overnight when a cold front moves in. As Lake Erie's waters become increasingly choppy, mariners are also advised to prep for potential Small Craft Advisories commencing Wednesday, extending into Thursday, with the marine conditions sketching sustained winds "less than 15 knots" for the short term according to NWS.
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