Forecast: Winter Storm Warning for parts of Northeastern Ohio tonight

CLEVELAND - WINTER STORM WARNING in effect for Cuyahoga, Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula Counties. Expect heavy snow this afternoon and evening along with winds gusting to 40mph. 

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY for Lorain, Medina, Stark, Summit, Wayne, Portage, Trumbull, & Mahoning Counties until 1pm Saturday afternoon. Expect scattered snow showers accumulating up to 2 additional inches overnight with blowing and drifting snow.

9:00 pm Update: Surface low pressure currently across North Central Pennsylvania now and moving rapidly east. Today's snows in Northern Ohio were the result of that spinning low pressure close by, enhanced a little by some of Lake Erie's moisture. A lot of the snow has melted due to the warm ground. Still We have seen a good 1-5 inches fall across most of the area.

As the low pressure pulls away and winds shift to the northwest, we will see a transition to lake effect snow. These snow bands will likely shift east into the higher terrain areas of Eastern Cuyahoga, Lake, Geauga, & Ashtabula Counties. Where the heavier snow bands persist, I expect another 3-5" of snow to fall. Outside of the snow bands, snowfall should be limited to less than 2 inches. Lows will fall back into the middle and upper 20s tonight. Winds will still be gusty above 35 mph at times. So. blowing and drifting snow could cause some slow-downs

Lake effect snow should diminish during the day tomorrow as the best lift and moisture moves east of Ohio. There could be another 1-3" of snow accumulating under the heavier snow bands east of Cleveland during the morning hours Saturday. The snow should rapidly taper to flurries during the afternoon. Travel conditions will greatly improve for your afternoon shopping trips or your evening holiday gatherings. Highs on Saturday will reach back into the lower and middle 30s.

Sunday looks dry with mostly sunny skies on the way. Expect high temperatures in the middle and upper 30s for the day.

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12:48 pm Update: Moderate snow falling across northern Ohio this afternoon will continue into the evening. Snow along with winds gusting to 40mph will create dangerous driving weather also. Be careful if you are out and about today and be sure to bundle up! Wind chills are in the 20s.

8 :23 am Update: Starting to see minor accumulations on grassy surfaces this morning but the roads are mainly wet, not quite icy yet. By noon we will start to see snow sticking to roads. Winds have already gusted 35mph with 40mph likely today. Drive safely and stay bundled, wind chills all day will hold in the 20s!

6:44 am Update: Expect accumulations to stay minimal. Most of us will only see and inch or less through noon. Winds are gusting to 35mph right now and will jump into the 40s this afternoon.

6:02 am Update: The snow isn't sticking to the roadways yet but bridges and overpasses are getting slick. Snow will continue to fall throughout the morning and into the afternoon. To make matters more hazardous, winds are gusting to 30mph. Keep both hands on the wheel this morning and leave yourself extra time.

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Strong winds and periods of snow likely throughout our Friday and into early Saturday. As this winter storm system slides east and through Ohio we'll end up with accumulations areawide near 2" with locally high amounts of up to 4 inches. 

The snowbelt east of Cleveland will have a round 2 this afternoon and evening as gusty north winds gather strength. Expect heavy snow and where squalls persist, snowfall amounts could reach as high as 12" before sunrise Saturday.

Expect winds to gust as high as 40mph during the day today before they relax overnight. The good news is that the winds relaxes but the cold sticks around. We'll keep temps in the lower 30s through the weekend.