Lake-Effect Snow — Ashtabula, Ohio

2024-11-29 to 2024-11-30 · Ashtabula, Ohio

Event narrative

A prolonged, crippling, and in some places historic lake effect event took place across the Northeast Ohio snowbelt to end November and start December in 2024. The event ramped up overnight November 28th and 29th as a band of very heavy snow with snow rates up to 3 inches per hour took shape on a westerly wind. Snow rates briefly diminished during the afternoon on November 29th as winds shifted a bit more southwesterly. Winds turned more westerly during the evening, directing intense bands with snow rates to 2 inches per hour back into the area. Lake effect snow lifted northeast and out of the area into the day on November 30th as winds shifted southwest. This provided a 12 to 24 hour break in the snow before activity returned December 1st. The first portion of this event led to significant impacts across extreme northeastern Ohio. I-90 was closed for nearly a day across parts of Ashtabula County, with many other roads experiencing difficult to impassible conditions, particularly overnight November 29th into November 30th. Many accidents were reported and some cars became stranded in the snow. The Ashtabula County sheriff closed all roadways in the northern half of the county to non-essential travel early in the morning on November 30th. Ashtabula County, along with some municipalities, declared a state of emergency due to the snow event. The heavy weight of the snow caused some tree and vegetation damage, with some structural damage such as roof collapses also noted. The heaviest snow focused on the northern third of Ashtabula County. Peak totals from November 29th and 30th included spotter reports of 29.5 inches in Sheffield Township, 27 inches in Monroe Center, 21 inches in Jefferson, 20.4 inches in Harpersfield Township and 19.9 inches in Rock Creek Township.

Wider weather episode

A prolonged, crippling, and in some places historic lake effect event took place across the Northeast Ohio snowbelt to end November and start December in 2024. The event ramped up overnight November 28th and 29th as a band of very heavy snow with snow rates up to 3 inches per hour took shape on a westerly wind. This band initially took aim at central and eastern Lake County, far northern Geauga County, and northern and central Ashtabula County. During the daytime on November 29th the winds backed to a more west-southwest direction which focused the heaviest snow closer to the Ashtabula County lakeshore as snow rates generally diminished. Winds turned more westerly during the evening, directing intense bands with snow rates up to 2 inches per hour back into central and eastern Lake County, far northern Geauga County, and northern and central Ashtabula County through the night. Lake effect snow lifted northeast and out of the area into the day on November 30th as winds shifted southwest. This provided a brief break in the snow before activity returned December1st. The first portion of this event led to significant impacts across extreme northeastern Ohio. I-90 was closed for nearly a day across eastern Ashtabula County with many other roads experiencing difficult to impassible conditions across eastern Lake County and northern and central Ashtabula County. Road conditions were worst overnight November 29th into November 30th. Many accidents were reported and some cars became stranded in the snow. The heavy weight of the snow caused some tree and vegetation damage, with some structural damage such as roof collapses also noted. Peak totals from November 29th and 30th included 40 inches in Saybrook and North Kingsville, 39 inches in Ashtabula, 35 inches in Conneaut, and 24 inches in Madison and North Madison.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1226132. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.