Lake-Effect Snow — Ashtabula Lakeshore, Ohio

2016-02-09 to 2016-02-11 · Ashtabula Lakeshore, Ohio

Event narrative

Cold northwest winds blowing across Lake Erie caused lake effect snow showers to develop during the evening hours of February 9th. The snow began to intensify during the early morning hours of the 10th. Heavy snow fell during the daylight hours of the 10th with visibilities most of the time under a mile and sometimes as low as a quarter mile. Snowfall rates during that period were in excess of an inch per hour. A swath of 6 to 10 inches of snow was reported from Lake County across northern Geauga County into Ashtabula County. A peak total in Ashtabula County of 13.9 inches was measured at Conneaut with 10.5 inches near Jefferson. Some schools in Northeast Ohio had to be closed because of the snow. Many accidents were reported.

Wider weather episode

Cold northwest winds blowing across Lake Erie caused lake effect snow showers to develop during the evening hours of February 9th. The snow began to intensify during the early morning hours of the 10th. Heavy snow fell during the daylight hours of the 10th with visibilities most of the time under a mile and sometimes as low as a quarter mile. Snowfall rates during that period were in excess of an inch per hour. The snow showers tapered off late on the 10th and early on the 11th. A swath of 6 to 10 inches of snow was reported from Lake County across northern Geauga County into Ashtabula County. Peak totals included 11.3 inches at Madison in Lake County with 13.9 inches at Conneaut in Ashtabula County. In Geauga County some of the higher totals included 13.8 inches north of Chardon, 13.0 inches at Burton and 10.5 inches in Montville Township. Some schools in Northeast Ohio had to be closed because of the snow. Many accidents were reported.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 621342. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.