Clevelanders rolled out of bed today to patchy fog, temperatures near 34°F, and a sneaky setup for slick pavement. The National Weather Service has a Winter Weather Advisory in effect through 10 AM EST for parts of northeast Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania, with light freezing rain or drizzle possible before everything flips to plain rain later this morning.
What To Expect
Forecasters say any freezing drizzle should stay on the lighter side, leaving at most a thin glaze to a few hundredths of an inch of ice. That is still plenty to cause trouble on untreated roads during the morning commute, especially before a changeover to rain between about 8 and 10 AM. The high will reach near 42F, with mostly cloudy skies and on-and-off light rain through the day. For the full advisory area and the latest updates, check NWS Cleveland.
How This Affects Your Commute
The combo of fog and patchy freezing drizzle can knock down visibility and turn bridges and overpasses into surprise skating rinks. Shaded spots may stay icy until temperatures climb. Leave extra room to brake, ease up on the gas on ramps and bridges, and if you can push nonessential trips back a bit, this is the morning to do it.
The Week Ahead
A stalled warm front will keep periods of rain in the forecast through the weekend, while temperatures climb into the upper 50s by Thursday and the low 60s on Friday. A heavier burst of rain is expected Thursday into Thursday night, with about a half to three-quarters of an inch possible and a slight risk of thunderstorms. Another wet spell is likely Saturday, when highs could reach near 70F. Forecasters say the axis of heaviest rain has nudged a bit south, cutting the odds of widespread flooding but still allowing for noticeable rises on creeks and smaller rivers later in the week.
In the meantime, keep the umbrella within arm’s reach and check conditions before heading out. Homeowners in low-lying spots should make sure sump pumps and drains are ready to handle several rounds of rain on already soggy ground. For background on the setup and recent forecasts, see Hoodline’s recent forecast on the gritty midweek chill.
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