The weather in Cleveland is taking a sharp turn as the National Weather Service in Cleveland has updated its forecast to highlight a significant increase in winds and potential snowfall. Residents can expect widespread rain showers transitioning to snow showers tonight, with lake effect snow possible by Sunday. In a more pressing concern, snow squalls are a realistic expectation for tonight, according to the latest weather discussion.
As the low-pressure system deepens over the Great Lakes region, those living along and west of I-71 should particularly be prepared for these sudden, heavy bursts of snow that "rates up to 1 "/hr are possible with rapidly changing visibilities," the National Weather Service reports. As the arctic front moves in, it's going to quickly drop temperatures to below freezing, which may lead to slick roads as the rainfall transitions to ice.
Heading into Sunday, the challenges continue with cold air advection trailing the system, ushering in brisk northwesterly winds that will culminate Sunday afternoon. Wind gusts could potentially peak at 40 mph. Those in the snowbelt regions, especially in the higher terrain of Northeast Ohio and Northwest Pennsylvania, are projected to see 2-4 inches of accumulation. The combination of the increased snowfall and high winds may contribute to difficult travel conditions and power disruption.
Likewise, the lead-up to mid-week isn't looking much nicer. Another low-pressure system is set to unleash more rain and snow showers from late Tuesday into Wednesday. Clevelanders should brace themselves for an extended period of adverse weather, as lake effect conditions are also expected to continue lingering into Thursday, according to the forecast discussion details. Categories like Small Craft Advisories and Gale Warnings have been put in place due to expected high winds on Lake Erie, a clear sign that this weather system will be one to take seriously.
For the aviators, a varying range of MVFR to potential IFR conditions may arise with the incoming weather patterns, primarily due to the predicted rain and snow showers across the region. Non-VFR conditions are possible area-wide late Saturday night into Sunday, persisting Sunday night across far Northeast Ohio and Northwest Pennsylvania. This weather event is yet another reminder of the unpredictable and at times unruly nature of Great Lakes weather systems during the winter months.
