CLEVELAND — After days of dealing with lake effect snow, more wintry weather is on the way as the National Weather Service in Cleveland has issued a Winter Storm Watch for several counties, which is in effect from 4 p.m. Wednesday until 4 a.m. Friday.
The following counties are included in the Winter Storm Watch:
- Ashtabula
- Cuyahoga
- Geauga
- Lake
- Portage
- Summit
- Trumbull
Areas outside of the snowbelt can also expect to see some snow due to a clipper system that will move in Wednesday into Thursday.
“How much more snow are we talking? Well, an area-wide coating to an inch with that arctic front as it goes through. That’s for everybody," Wintz says. "Then in terms of the snowbelts, there are some of the early numbers coming in. We could have some more heavier totals with maybe 6-12 inches possible where those bands persist.”
The National Weather Service wants drivers to be prepared for difficult driving conditions with low visibility amid the falling and blowing snow.
“If travel is absolutely necessary, drive with extreme caution,” according to the National Weather Service. “Consider taking a winter storm kit along with you, including such items as tire chains, booster cables, flashlight, shovel, blankets and extra clothing. Also take water, a first aid kit, and anything else that would help you survive in case you become stranded."
In addition to accumulating lake effect snow, we’re also expecting gusty winds topping 45 mph.
“Yes, we may have blizzard conditions at times as we go into our Thursday out in the snowbelt," Wintz says.
Temperatures will also be dropping.
“We go from the 30s down into the teens waking up Thursday morning," Wintz says while noting "it will feel like below zero for a lot of us, coldest air of the season so far."