Lake-Effect Snow — Ashtabula Lakeshore, Ohio

2017-12-29 to 2017-12-31 · Ashtabula Lakeshore, Ohio

Event narrative

An area of weak low pressure over the northern Great Lakes at daybreak on December 29th moved southeast and eventually passed to the north of Lake Erie during the early morning hours of the 30th. Snow associated with the low developed around daybreak on the 29th and transitioned to lake effect by early on the 30th as cold northwest winds behind the low interacted with Lake Erie. The snow showers were initially confined to the immediate lakeshore but shifted inland and intensified during the predawn hours of the 30th with periods of moderate to heavy snow reported during the daylight hours of the 30th. Visibilities at times were under one half mile with snowfall rates greater than an inch per hour. The brunt of the snow showers affected the eastern half of Lake County and about the northern third to half of Ashtabula County. The snow showers began to diminish during the evening of the 30th but didn't taper to flurries till the daylight hours of the 31st. Northwest winds gusted to as much as 30 mph on the 30th causing considerable blowing and drifting. Storm totals exceeded a foot in many areas. In Ashtabula County, a peak total of 19.4 inches was reported at North Kingsville with most of that total falling on the 30th. Other totals from Ashtabula County included: 17.0 inches in Monroe Township; 16.0 inches at Geneva; 14.0 inches south of Conneaut; 11.5 inches at Ashtabula and 10.5 inches at Kellogsville.

Wider weather episode

An area of weak low pressure over the northern Great Lakes at daybreak on December 29th moved southeast and eventually passed to the north of Lake Erie during the early morning hours of the 30th. Snow associated with the low developed around daybreak on the 29th and transitioned to lake effect by early on the 30th as cold northwest winds behind the low interacted with Lake Erie. The snow showers were initially confined to the immediate lakeshore but shifted inland and intensified during the predawn hours of the 30th with periods of moderate to heavy snow reported during the daylight hours of the 30th. Visibilities at times were under one half mile with snowfall rates greater than an inch per hour. The brunt of the snow showers affected the eastern half of Lake County and about the northern third to half of Ashtabula County. The snow showers began to diminish during the evening of the 30th but didn't taper to flurries till the daylight hours of the 31st. Northwest winds gusted to as much as 30 mph on the 30th causing considerable blowing and drifting. Storm totals exceeded a foot in many areas. In Ashtabula County, a peak total of 19.4 inches was reported at North Kingsville with most of that total falling on the 30th. Other totals from Ashtabula County included: 17.0 inches in Monroe Township; 16.0 inches at Geneva; 14.0 inches south of Conneaut; 11.5 inches at Ashtabula and 10.5 inches at Kellogsville. In Lake County, a peak total of 14.5 inches was reported at Madison with 11.8 inches at Mentor. Travel was hampered by this storm and many accidents were reported.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 730404. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.