Strong winter storm sets its sight on the Great Lakes and Northern Ohio this week

CLEVELAND - A strong winter storm will affect the Great Lakes and Northern Ohio Thursday thru early Saturday.

Low pressure will slide northeast into lower Michigan on Thursday. Rain showers, some of them heavy, will move into Northern Ohio Thursday afternoon. Rain totals for many of us will exceed 1/2 inch by Thursday evening's rush hour.

The low will then track east across Lake Erie Thursday night. Cold air will spill in behind the low causing the rain to change over to scattered snow showers. Snow totals by noon on Friday will range from a dusting to perhaps as much as three inches.

Wind speeds will pick up as well, gusting up to 50 mph at time Thursday night and Friday. Lake effect snow will set up Friday afternoon and  continue Friday night and Saturday morning. Accumulating snows will favor the traditional snow belts of Ohio. The majority of Northern Ohio will see a trace to as much as two inches of snow by Saturday evening.

But, where lake effect snow showers and squalls persist, 6 to 10 inches of snow are possible, along with substantial blowing and drifting. The areas that will likely see the most snow include Eastern Cuyahoga, Lake, Geauga & Ashtabula Counties. Stay tuned! EARLY snowfall forecasts suggest the following snow totals by late Saturday afternoon:

Cleveland: 4-6"
Akron: 2-4"
Canton 1-2"
Mansfield: 1-2"
Medina: 3-5"
Ashtabula: 4-6"
Mentor: 3-5"
Chardon: 6-10"
Lorain: 3-5"
Jefferson: 5-7"
Brunswick: 4-6"
Strongsville: 3-5"