CLEVELAND — Northeast Ohio is bracing for some pretty nasty weather during the Christmas weekend, with wind chills expected to drop below zero and some areas potentially seeing up to a foot of snow.
The city of Cleveland hosted a virtual press conference on Wednesday to update residents on their plans for the storm. Officials discussed preparations for the effect the snow will surely have on city streets as well as impacts to the airport during one of the busiest travel weekends of the year. The fire department also shared tips on how to stay safe.
3News livestreamed the press conference, which can be watched inside this story.
During the press conference, the following officials spoke:
- Director of Public Works Frank Williams
- Commissioner of Streets Randy Scott
- Cleveland Hopkins International Airport spokesman John Goersmeyer
- Division of Fire PIO Lt. Mike Norman
Officials discussed preparations for the effect the snow will surely have on city streets as well as impacts to the airport during one of the busiest travel weekends of the year. The fire department also shared tips on how to stay safe.
The city of Cleveland noted that they will be working around the clock in order to prepare for the storm.
"We will be pre-treating and keeping up with it. After the storm has ended we will finish clearing the main roads and then quickly move into residential areas," said Scott.
Scott told 3News' Neil Fischer that the city will begin to treat roads on Thursday night around 11 p.m.
“We will be in earnest pre-treating all main and secondary streets. There won’t be any use for chemicals at that time, chemical use will come in when we get down to the single digits if needed," said Scott.
Cleveland Hopkins Airport officials are asking travelers to come prepared with a contingency plan as over 415,000 passengers are expected this holiday season. This week alone, officials say around 13,000 travelers are expected to at the airport on both Wednesday and Thursday. The anticipated number of passengers on Friday is around 10,000.
"This is one of the busiest travel times of the year for us. With the storm coming we are asking people to plan ahead," said Goersmeyer.
Tips for traveling during the winter storm:
- Arrive two hours ahead to find checkpoints and places to park
- Pay attention to the website and look for the status of flights and parking availability
- Be in contact with your airline ahead of your flight
“Right now the safety of the airport is our number one priority," said Goersmeyer. "Our main focus is to make sure the runways stay as clear as possible when we get heavy snow. When the snow begins to fall, our snow and ice plan will fall into effect.
With temperatures dropping and power outages a possibility, the city will be keeping two warming centers open Friday from 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. and Saturday through Monday from 9:30 a.m.-10 p.m. They are:
- Zelma George Neighborhood Resource & Recreation Center — 3155 Martin Luther King Blvd.
- Michael Zone Neighborhood Resource & Recreation Center — 6301 Lorain Ave.
In addition, the following warming centers will also be open during the same hours, but only during Friday and Saturday:
- Collinwood Neighborhood Resource & Recreation Center — 16300 Lakeshore Blvd.
- Sterling Neighborhood Resource & Recreation Center — 1380 E. 32nd St.