Winter storm bears down on northeastern Ohio with snow and winds

CLEVELAND - LATEST WARNINGS:

WINTER STORM WARNING in effect for Cuyahoga, Lake, Geauga, & Ashtabula Counties from 4 a.m. Friday through Saturday afternoon. Expect a general 3-5 inches of snow across the warning area with between 6 & 12 inches where heavier snow squalls persist. Wind gusts above 30 mph will cause blowing and drifting snow.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY in effect for all of Northern Ohio (except the Winter Storm Warned Counties) from 4 a.m. Friday morning through Saturday 1 p.m. Scattered snow showers will accumulate between 2 & 5 inches with extensive blowing and drifting snow.

OVERVIEW: Scattered rain showers will continue to shift east across our area through 11pm tonight. The cold front itself will move by between 8 and 10 pm. Once the front moves thru, colder air will change the scattered rains showers to scattered snow showers. Accumulations by dawn will range between a dusting to as much as 1 inch. Wind gusts tonight could exceed 40 mph at times.

Scattered snow showers will continue Friday morning. Winds will gust above 30 mph at times. Lake effect snows will develop once the winds shift around to the northwest. That should happen during the afternoon. Lake effect snow showers will increase in coverage and intensity during the afternoon and evening. Snow totals for the day will fall in the 1 to 3 inch range with some higher amounts to 5". High temperatures will hang in the lower and middle 30s, with wind chills in the teens!

Heavy lake effect snow squalls will continue Friday night, especially in the Warning Area Where squalls persist, expect an additional 4-7" inches of snow with extensive blowing and drifting. Outside of the snow squalls, expect an additional trace to 2 inches of snowfall by dawn. Low temperatures will fall into the middle 20s. Winds will gust above 35 mph at times.

Snow showers should end quickly during the morning or early afternoon on Saturday. It will stay mainly cloudy and breezy through the day with highs in the lower and middle 30s. Sunday looks dry and cold, a high near 36 degrees. Stay tuned!