Lake-Effect Snow — Ashtabula Lakeshore, Ohio

2020-01-19 · Ashtabula Lakeshore, Ohio

Event narrative

Low pressure over northern Lower Michigan on the afternoon of January 18th moved east through the Great Lakes region and extended a cold front through Northeast Ohio during the evening hours. With the front, scattered snow showers moved over the region, bringing light accumulations through the morning hours of the 19th. Lake effect snow became more organized during the day on the 19th with northwest flow setting up over the region. A multi-band lake effect snow event developed over the region with a dominant band originating upstream over Lake Huron and this band had snowfall rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour. This band swept east to west over Northeast Ohio beginning during the early afternoon hours of the 19th and continuing well into the evening and overnight hours into the 20th. The highest snow total for this event was 11 inches in Saybrook Township. Other high snow totals in this area include: 8.5 inches in the Edgewood area of Ashtabula, 7.6 inches in Ashtabula, and 6 inches in Geneva.

Wider weather episode

Low pressure over northern Lower Michigan on the afternoon of January 18th moved east through the Great Lakes region and extended a cold front through Northeast Ohio during the evening hours. With the front, scattered snow showers moved over the region, bringing light accumulations through the morning hours of the 19th. Lake effect snow became more organized during the day on the 19th with northwest flow setting up over the region. A multi-band lake effect snow event developed over the region with a dominant band originating upstream over Lake Huron and this band had snowfall rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour. This band swept east to west over Northeast Ohio beginning during the early afternoon hours of the 19th and continuing well into the evening and overnight hours into the 20th. The highest snow total for this event was 13.5 inches in Hambden Township in Geauga County. Other selected event totals include: 13 inches in Chardon, 11.9 inches in Montville Township, 11.7 inches in Thompson Township, 11 inches in Saybrook and Monroe Townships, 10 inches in South Russell, 9.9 inches in Chagrin Falls, 9.6 in Concord Township, 9.5 inches in Euclid and Kelloggsville, 9.1 inches in Willoughby, 8.5 inches in Madison and the Edgewood area of Ashtabula, 8 inches in Painesville and Harpersfield Township, 7.6 inches in Ashtabula, 7.2 inches in Middlefield, 7 inches in Mentor, 6.7 inches in Cleveland Heights, and 6 inches in Parma.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 874084. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.