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CLEVELAND – A BLIZZARD WARNING is in effect from 7am Wednesday morning thru Thursday 7am for Cuyahoga (Including Greater Cleveland), Lorain, Erie, Huron, Ottawa, Sandusky, Seneca, Lake and the lakeshore communities of Ashtabula County. A Blizzard Warning means heavy snow will combine with frequent wind gusts to 35 mph or higher for 3 hours or more. This will create visibilities near zero at times during the height of the storm Wednesday afternoon and evening. Travel should be avoided across the warning area if at all possible. Some roads will be impassible due to drifting snow Wednesday afternoon and evening.

A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for Inland Ashtabula, Geauga, Mahoning, Trumbull, Portage, Summit, Stark, Medina, Wayne, Holmes, Coshocton,Tuscarawas, Carroll, Columbiana, Ashland, & Richland Counties beginning Wednesday morning through 7am Thursday morning. A WARNING means that severe winter weather is imminent. Preparations should be completed to prepare for heavy snow and dangerous travel Wednesday afternoon thru Thursday morning.

A strong low pressure system will move northeast into the Ohio Valley and lower Great Lakes on Wednesday, setting the stage for a major snow event for portions of the state.

As the low travels up to near the Ohio River Wednesday morning, a band of heavy snow will move north into our area. This snow band will be capable of dumping anywhere from 6 to as much as 12 inches of snow area-wide during the day Wednesday, becoming most intense during the afternoon and evening. Current forecasts suggest the heaviest snows will fall between US Route 30 and Interstate 90 and east of Interstate 71. If the storm is, indeed, a direct hit, some parts of northern Ohio could easily see MORE than a foot of snow by noon Thursday.

Right now, it appears the storm will be at its worst for a 12-hour period from around noon Wednesday through midnight Thursday. A secondary low pressure is forecast to form along the East Coast Thursday afternoon. This low will begin to “steal” energy from our winter storm. This should help shut off the snow quickly from west to east Wednesday night.  Right now, it appears that the event will remain all snow for our area. We no longer expect much if any sleet or freezing rain to mix in.

Snowfall will be heavy at times Wednesday afternoon into Wednesday night and winds will gust up to near 40 mph. Blowing and drifting snow could be a problem for drivers after the holidays. Visibilities will be reduced to near zero at times. Travel plans should be modified, if possible, to avoid this severe weather situation.

Temperatures will be in the lower 30s Wednesday and will drop into the low to mid 20s by Wednesday night. Highs Thursday will only be in the upper 20s to near 30 degrees.

While earlier computer forecasts had wavered and pushed the heaviest snows north into lower Michigan, the latest forecast are all agreeing now that the heaviest snows will fall across northern Ohio. Finer details still need to be worked out in the coming 36 hours. Stay tuned!

Read more: http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/weather/winter/major-winter-storm-sets-its-sights-on-northern-ohio-for-boxing-day-on-wednesday#ixzz2G6HPEykz

 

Article Courtesy of WEWS NewsChannel 5