Cleveland is waking up to a milder Saturday, with partly cloudy skies and temperatures holding near 38°F. Skies should trend mostly sunny through the day, with a high near 40°F and a light northwest breeze of 2–7 mph. Clouds move back in tonight, and the low is expected to settle near 32°F.
Weekend Snapshot
Sun should win out for much of the afternoon and early evening, giving the city a brighter break. Sunday (February 15) looks a bit milder, with a high near 45°F and light southwest winds around 5 mph. By Monday (Washington’s Birthday), temperatures are poised to reach the upper 40s before the overall pattern pivots toward a wetter setup by midweek.
Midweek Rain And River Risk
The weather turns more active as the new workweek unfolds. A chance of light rain moves in late Tuesday night, with showers likely on Wednesday, February 18, when highs should reach near 57°F and south winds start to pick up. Precipitation amounts are generally forecast at around a third of an inch or less, with locally up to a half-inch, so flooding is not expected to be widespread. The combination of that rain and a melting snowpack could nudge area rivers higher and increase the potential for localized ice jams, according to the NWS Cleveland.
Lake Erie And Boating Safety
Lake Erie is still largely ice-covered, but observers have reported widening breaks in the ice east of the Islands toward Vermilion. Light southwest winds and temperatures at or above freezing will keep eating away at the ice through the week, while stronger southwest winds from Wednesday into Thursday could shove ice floes around and create hazardous shoreline conditions. This trend started earlier in the month; see Lake Erie ice starting to crack for earlier photos and context.
How To Prepare
Commuters should plan for wet roads and reduced visibility during the Wednesday morning drive. Build in extra travel time and expect patchy runoff in spots where the snowpack is melting. Avoid driving through any standing water, and give riverbanks and shorelines a wide berth whenever ice is in motion. Boaters and anglers are better off postponing trips until lake conditions settle down and local marine advisories are lifted.
Forecasters will keep an eye on river levels and ice movement through the week. Check the National Weather Service and local officials for any flood or marine statements before locking in plans later this week.
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