Lake-Effect Snow — Ashtabula Lakeshore, Ohio

2016-01-17 to 2016-01-19 · Ashtabula Lakeshore, Ohio

Event narrative

An arctic cold front moved east across the Great Lakes Region on Sunday January 17th, ushering the coldest air of the season into the area. Heavy lake effect snow showers developed behind the front late Sunday and continued at times into the 19th as a prolonged period of west to northwest flow set up across Lake Erie. With Lake Erie still mainly ice free, abundant moisture was avaiable for the snow showers and some significant accumulations were reported. Some of the heaviest snow fell during the early morning hours of the 18th and again early on the 19th when snowfall rates exceeded an inch per hour. Snowfall totals over much of Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula Counties ranged from 12 to 18 inches with locally higher amounts. In Ashtabula County 18.2 inches was reported near Conneaut with 15.3 inches near Jefferson. Westerly winds of 10 to 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph accompanied the snow and caused considerable blowing and drifting. Visibilities and times were near zero in the heavier bands. The strong winds combined with the cold air to create wind chills of minus 10 or colder. Most of the schools in northeastern Ohio were closed on the 18th and 19th. Travel was hampered by this storm and the cold air made road clean up a challenge. Many accidents were reported.

Wider weather episode

An arctic cold front moved east across the Great Lakes Region on Sunday January 17th, ushering the coldest air of the season into the area. Heavy lake effect snow showers developed behind the front late Sunday and continued at times into the 19th as a prolonged period of west to northwest flow set up across Lake Erie. With Lake Erie still mainly ice free, abundant moisture was avaiable for the snow showers and some significant accumulations were reported. Some of the heaviest snow fell during the early morning hours of the 18th and again early on the 19th when snowfall rates exceeded an inch per hour. Snowfall totals over much of Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula Counties ranged from 12 to 18 inches with locally higher amounts. In Lake County peak totals were 21.8 inches at Kirtland and 21.0 inches south of Madison. In Geauga County the highest total was 29.0 inches at Chardon. In Ashtabula County 18.2 inches was reported near Conneaut with 15.3 inches near Jefferson. Westerly winds of 10 to 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph accompanied the snow and caused considerable blowing and drifting. Visibilities and times were near zero in the heavier bands. The strong winds combined with the cold air to create wind chills of minus 10 or colder. Most of the schools in northeastern Ohio were closed on the 18th and 19th. Travel was hampered by this storm and the cold air made road clean up a challenge. Many accidents were reported.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 615536. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.