Lake-Effect Snow in Ohio, December 12 to 15, 2010

Name: Lake-Effect Snow in Ohio, December 12 to 15, 2010
Start: 2010-12-12T12:00
End: 2010-12-15T03:00
Location: Ohio

December 12 to 15, 2010 · NWS CLE · 8 events in 8 counties and zones

An area of strong low pressure moved up the Ohio Valley on December 12th. This low shifted to New England by early on the 13th.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 8 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $2.2 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 8

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS CLE wrote it up.

An area of strong low pressure moved up the Ohio Valley on December 12th. This low shifted to New England by early on the 13th. Cold north to northwest winds behind this low caused lake effect snow showers to develop over Northeast Ohio during the afternoon hours of December 12th. The snow activity intensified on December 13th with periods of moderate to heavy snow during the morning and afternoon hours. Northwest winds gusted to as much as 30 mph on the 13th. The strong winds and snow combined to create near zero visibilities and considerable blowing and drifting. Snowfall rates with the heaviest bands approached two inches per hour. The heaviest snowfall on the 13th fell on southeastern Cuyahoga County, southern Geauga County and the northern portions of Summit and Portage Counties. The lake effect activity lessened during the late evening hours of the 13th and early morning hours of the 14th. The activity picked up again during the morning of the 14th over inland Ashtabula County and northeastern Trumbull County. The snow finally tapered off from west to east late on the 14th and early on the 15th. Snowfall totals over much of the Northeast Ohio snowbelt were in excess of a foot from the 12th through the 15th. Peak totals of over two feet were reported in Portage and Trumbull Counties. Peak totals for each of the counties affected were: 29.5 inches at Kinsman in Trumbull County; 25.3 inches at Kent in Portage County; 22.3 inches at Roaming Shores in inland Ashtabula County; 21.2 inches at Twinsburg in Summit County; 19.0 inched in Russell Township in Geauga County; 16.8 inches at Solon in Cuyahoga County; 12.0 inches at South Madison in Lake County and 9.5 inches at Medina in Medina County. Officially, 14.5 inches of snow was measured at the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport in Trumbull County on the 12th through the 14th. Drifts of up to three feet deep were reported in some areas. Most of the snow in Lake and Medina Counties fell on the 13th. Travel during this event was treacherous at times. Many schools were closed or delayed on the 13th and 14th.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Cleveland, OH wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 12, 6:49 AM EST, 5 hours 11 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 12, 6:49 AM EST, 5 hours 11 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OH
649 AM EST SUN DEC 12 2010

.SYNOPSIS...
DEEP LOW PRESSURE WILL MOVE ACROSS NORTHERN OHIO TO EASTERN LAKE
ERIE BY THIS EVENING AS A STRONG COLD FRONT MOVES ACROSS THE
REGION. THE LOW WILL CONTINUE TO DEEPEN AS IT MOVES NORTHEAST
SETTING UP A NORTHWESTERLY FLOW OF COLD AIR ACROSS THE AREA. LAKE
EFFECT SNOW SHOWERS WILL BEGIN TO DEVELOP TONIGHT AND PERSIST
INTO WEDNESDAY.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
THE DEEP LOW PRESSURE WAS BEGINNING TO MOVE INTO NORTHWEST OHIO
EARLY THIS MORNING WITH THE COLD FRONT ALSO MOVING INTO WESTERN
OHIO. THERE HAS BEEN SOME MIXED PRECIP THIS MORNING R/S OVER
WESTERN OHIO AND SOUTHEASTERN AREAS WITH DYNAMIC COOLING
OCCURRING. EXPECT MAINLY SNOW IN THE FAR WEST AND MIXED PRECIP
ELSEWHERE THIS MORNING GRADUALLY CHANGING TO ALL SNOW SLOWLY FROM
WEST TO EAST. A DRY SLOT WAS PUSHING INTO WESTERN OHIO THIS
MORNING JUST BEHIND THE FRONT AND WILL LIKELY SEE PRECIP TAPERING
OFF FOR AWHILE BEHIND THE FRONT THEN PICKING UP AGAIN AS THE WRAP
AROUND MOISTURE SPREAD BACK IN. ADJUSTED THE TIMING OF THE WEATHER
ADV IN THE WEST TO START THIS AFTERNOON WHILE ADDING SERN PORTION
OF THE FORECAST AREA TO WEATHER ADV STARTING TONIGHT. THESE AREAS
WILL LIKELY SEE SOME ACCUMULATION DURING THE DAY BUT MAIN PROBLEM
WILL LIKELY WAIT TO LATE AFTERNOON WITH WRAP AROUND MOISTURE AND
THEN WHEN WINDS PICK UP AND BECOME GUSTY TONIGHT. IN NERN AREAS
STARTED THE LAKE EFFECT SNOW WARNING FOR TONIGHT RUNNING IT
THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT. IT LOOKS LIKE MOST AREA WILL SEE 2 TO 5
INCH SNOWFALL TODAY AND TONIGHT WITH BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW
THEN DEVELOPING ESPECIALLY WESTERN AREAS. IT WILL LIKELY TAKE
UNTIL LATE TONIGHT OR EARLY MONDAY FOR THE LAKE EFFECT SNOW
SHOWERS TO GET STARTED IN EARNEST.

&&

.SHORT TERM /MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/...
PRECIP SHOULD START TO TAPER OFF IN THE WESTERN AND SOUTHERN AREAS
ON MONDAY BUT BRISK NWLY WINDS WILL STILL CAUSE BLOWING SNOW. IN
NE OHIO AND NW PENNSYLVANIA STRONG NW VERY COLD FLOW EXPECTED WITH
SIGNIFICANT LAKE EFFECT SNOW SHOWERS OCCURRING MONDAY INTO TUESDAY
NIGHT AND PROBABLY CONTINUING OVER EXTREME NE OHIO AND NW PA INTO
WEDNESDAY. FOR NOW HAVE THE WINTER STORM WARNING GOING THROUGH
TUESDAY NIGHT. AS MENTION...MAY HAVE TO THE EXTEND WARNING FOR
EXTREME NE OHIO AND NW PA...USUAL SNOWBELT AREA...INTO WEDNESDAY
WHILE AREAS FROM LORAIN DOWN TO YNG AREA MAY BE ABLE TO BE REMOVED
FROM THE WARNING EARLIER AS WINDS BACK A LITTLE SHIFTING THE
HEAVIER SNOW SHOWERS AWAY FROM THESE AREAS LATE TUESDAY. ADDING TO
THE HEAVY LAKE EFFECT SNOW SHOWERS WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO STAY
FAIRLY INTO TUESDAY CAUSING CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING
SNOW. SIGNIFICANT SNOW AMOUNTS WILL OCCUR WITH LOCATIONS IN THE
TYPICAL SNOW BELT AREA SEEING THE POTENTIAL FOR 1 TO 2 FEET OF
SNOW. WIND CHILLS WILL ALSO DIP TO 0 TO 10 OR 15 DEGREES BELOW
ZERO AT TIMES.

&&

.LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
CYCLONIC FLOW WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE AREA ON THURSDAY IN THE
NORTHEAST SNOWBELT REGION AS LOW SHIFTS OFF THE EAST COAST AND
WEAK RIDGE TRIES TO BUILD INTO THE SOUTHERN AND WESTERN PORTIONS OF
THE FORECAST AREA. THIS MEANS A CONTINUATION OF LAKE EFFECT SNOW ON
THURSDAY IN THE NORTHEAST.  SOME LIGHT SNOW COULD SPREAD NORTH INTO
THE FORECAST AREA FROM THE SOUTH AS YET ANOTHER LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM
MOVES NORTHEAST TOWARD THE REGION.

ARCTIC AIR PUSHES SOUTHEAST INTO THE AREA FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY
SETTING UP ANOTHER ROUND OF LAKE EFFECT SNOW SHOWERS IN THE
NORTHEAST AND SCATTERED SNOW SHOWER ACTIVITY ELSEWHERE.

MORE COLD AIR PLUNGES SOUTHEAST INTO THE AREA FROM THE NORTHWEST AS
850 TEMPERATURES TAKE A NOSE DIVE TO -10C TO -12C.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
COLD FRONT PROGGED TO MOVE THROUGH AROUND 18Z THIS AFTERNOON. SNOW
HAS ALREADY OCCURRED IN THE SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA
WITH THREE QUARTERS OF AN INCH ON THE GROUND IN MANSFIELD. SNOW IS
STRUGGLING TO MAKE IT INTO THE NORTHERN AREAS DUE TO DOWNSLOPING
WARMING WIND. IF SNOW OCCURS IT WILL LIKELY BE MIXED WITH THE RAIN
IN THE NORTH.

LATEST OBSERVATIONS SHOW TRUE SNOW WITH THE STORM SYSTEM IS
KNOCKING ON THE WESTERN DOOR OF OHIO AT THIS TIME. THIS IS WHERE
THE ARCTIC FRONT LIES AS WELL. SNOW SHOWERS WILL SPREAD ACROSS THE
FORECAST AREA THROUGH THE DAY. MODELS INDICATE DRY SLOT WILL NEVER
MAKE IT INTO THE FORECAST AREA AND COLD AIR WILL SLIDE INTO THE
EXISTING RAIN WITH THE COLD FRONT.

CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES APPEAR TO BE DEPENDING ON THE
DOWNSLOPING FLOW SO WILL ADJUST THEM ACCORDINGLY. I ANTICIPATE AS
FLOW BECOMES MORE WESTERLY...THE NEAR LAKE SITES WILL START TO SEE
THE LOWER CEILINGS. MANSFIELD AND YOUNGSTOWN AND AKRON CANTON
EXPERIENCING SOME UPSLOPE AT THIS TIME SO THIS IS LIKELY HELPING
TO ENHANCE CHANGE OVER TO SNOW.

DETERIORATED CONDITIONS WILL LAST INTO THE TONIGHT PERIOD AND NOT
EXPECTING ANY IMPROVEMENT THROUGH THIS TAF PERIOD.

WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 20 TO 29 KNOTS TONIGHT FROM THE NORTHWEST
AS GRADIENT TIGHTENS WEST OF THE COLD FRONT.

.OUTLOOK...TRANSITION TO LAKE EFFECT TONIGHT. WIDESPREAD MVFR/IFR
AREA WIDE TONIGHT/MONDAY. GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS DEVELOP TONIGHT
THROUGH TUESDAY. SOME IMPROVEMENT WEST BY WEDNESDAY.

&&

.MARINE...
WINDS EXPECTED TO INCREASE BEHIND THE COLD FRONT THIS AFTERNOON INTO
THIS EVENING TO GALES ON THE WEST HALF OF THE LAKE. SO WILL HOIST
GALE WARNING FOR 06Z THIS EVENING WEST HALF BUT KEEP THE REST OF THE
LAKE UNDER A GALE WATCH. STRONGER WINDS DO NOT MOVE INTO THE EASTERN
HALF OF THE LAKE UNTIL MONDAY NIGHT AND MAY NEED GALES FOR THAT END
FOR A 12 HOUR PERIOD.  WINDS START TO DIMINISH TUESDAY MORNING BELOW
GALES AS GRADIENT WEAKENS.

WINDS GRADUALLY DECREASE TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY TO LIGHT AND
VARIABLE BY THURSDAY.

ICE IS STARTING TO FORM ON THE SHORES OF THE LAKE BUT IS MINIMAL AND
WILL HAVE LITTLE IMPACT ON VESSEL PASSAGE AT THIS TIME.

&&

.CLE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OH...WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 7 AM EST
     WEDNESDAY FOR OHZ010>014-020>023-033-089.
     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 1 PM EST
     MONDAY FOR OHZ029>032-037-038-047.
     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 1 PM EST
     MONDAY FOR OHZ003-006>009-017>019-027-028-036.
PA...WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 7 AM EST
     WEDNESDAY FOR PAZ001>003.
MARINE...GALE WATCH FROM MONDAY EVENING THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING FOR
     LEZ061-147>149-167>169.
     GALE WARNING FROM 1 AM MONDAY TO 7 AM EST TUESDAY FOR
     LEZ142>146-162>166.

&&

SYNOPSIS...RANDEL
NEAR TERM...RANDEL
SHORT TERM...RANDEL
LONG TERM...LOMBARDY
AVIATION...LOMBARDY
MARINE...LOMBARDY

Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 12, 11:08 AM EST, 52 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OH
1108 AM EST SUN DEC 12 2010

OHZ010>014-020>023-033-089-PAZ001>003-131615-
LORAIN-CUYAHOGA-LAKE-GEAUGA-ASHTABULA INLAND-MEDINA-SUMMIT-PORTAGE-
TRUMBULL-MAHONING-ASHTABULA LAKESHORE-NORTHERN ERIE-SOUTHERN ERIE-
CRAWFORD PA-
1108 AM EST SUN DEC 12 2010

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 7 AM EST
WEDNESDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL
OHIO...NORTHEAST OHIO AND NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   WINTER STORM WARNING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   WINTER STORM WARNING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

OHZ003-006>009-017>019-027>032-036>038-047-131615-
LUCAS-WOOD-OTTAWA-SANDUSKY-ERIE OH-HANCOCK-SENECA-HURON-WYANDOT-
CRAWFORD-RICHLAND-ASHLAND-WAYNE-STARK-MARION-MORROW-HOLMES-KNOX-
1108 AM EST SUN DEC 12 2010

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EST MONDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL
OHIO...NORTHEAST OHIO AND NORTHWEST OHIO.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

LEZ142>146-162>166-131615-
MAUMEE BAY TO RENO BEACH OH-RENO BEACH TO THE ISLANDS OH-
THE ISLANDS TO VERMILION OH-VERMILION TO AVON POINT OH-
AVON POINT TO WILLOWICK OH-
LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM MAUMEE BAY TO RENO BEACH-
LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM RENO BEACH TO THE ISLANDS-
LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM THE ISLANDS TO VERMILION-
LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM VERMILION TO AVON POINT-
LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM AVON POINT TO WILLOWICK-
1108 AM EST SUN DEC 12 2010

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM MONDAY TO 7 AM EST TUESDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR LAKE ERIE.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   GALE WARNING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   GALE WARNING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

LEZ061-147>149-167>169-131615-
LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM RIPLEY TO BUFFALO NY-WILLOWICK TO GENEVA-
ON-THE LAKE OH-GENEVA-ON-THE-LAKE TO CONNEAUT OH-
CONNEAUT OH TO RIPLEY NY-
LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM WILLOWICK TO GENEVA-ON-THE-LAKE-
LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM GENEVA-ON-THE-LAKE TO CONNEAUT-
LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM CONNEAUT OH TO RIPLEY NY-
1108 AM EST SUN DEC 12 2010

...GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY EVENING THROUGH TUESDAY
MORNING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR LAKE ERIE.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   GALE WATCH.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

OUDEMAN

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 lake-effect snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Lake-Effect Snow, Ashtabula

When: December 12, 12:00 PM EST to December 15, 1:00 AM EST
Where: Ashtabula forecast zone
Property damage: $250,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.896, -80.759 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy lake effect snow fell on portions of inland Ashtabula County from the afternoon hours of December 12th through the early morning hours of December 15th. Snowfall totals ranged from just a few inches to over 20 inches in the north. A peak total of 22.3 inches was reported at Roaming Shores. Snowfall rates with the heaviest bands of snow approached two inches per hour. Northwest winds gusted to as much as 30 mph on the 13th. The snow and gusty winds combined to create near zero visibilities and considerable blowing and drifting. Travel was treacherous during this event. Many school districts were closed or delayed on the 13th and 14th.

Lake-Effect Snow, Medina

When: December 12, 1:00 PM EST to December 14, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Medina forecast zone
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.118, -81.900 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy lake effect snow fell on the northern half of Medina County from the afternoon hours of December 12th through midday on the 14th. The heaviest snow fell on the 13th. A peak total of 9.5 inches was reported at Medina. Snowfall rates on the 13th were as much as an inch per hour. Northwest winds gusted to as much as 30 mph on the 13th. The snow and gusty winds combined to create near zero visibilities and considerable blowing and drifting. Travel was treacherous during this event. Many school districts were closed or delayed on the 13th and 14th.

Lake-Effect Snow, Summit

When: December 12, 1:00 PM EST to December 15, 1:00 AM EST
Where: Summit forecast zone
Property damage: $500,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.126, -81.532 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy lake effect snow fell on portions of Summit County from the afternoon hours of December 12th through the early morning hours of December 15th. Snowfall totals ranged from just a few inches at the southern end of the county to over 20 inches in the north. A peak total of 21.2 inches was reported at Twinsburg. Snowfall rates with the heaviest bands of snow approached two inches per hour. Northwest winds gusted to as much as 30 mph on the 13th. The snow and gusty winds combined to create near zero visibilities and considerable blowing and drifting. Travel was treacherous during this event. Many school districts were closed or delayed on the 13th and 14th.

Lake-Effect Snow, Portage

When: December 12, 1:00 PM EST to December 15, 1:00 AM EST
Where: Portage forecast zone
Property damage: $300,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.168, -81.197 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy lake effect snow fell on portions of Portage County from the afternoon hours of December 12th through the early morning hours of December 15th. Snowfall totals ranged from just a few inches at the southern end of the county to over two feet in the north. A peak total of 25.6 inches was reported at Kent. Snowfall rates with the heaviest bands of snow approached two inches per hour. Northwest winds gusted to as much as 30 mph on the 13th. The snow and gusty winds combined to create near zero visibilities and considerable blowing and drifting. Travel was treacherous during this event. Many school districts were closed or delayed on the 13th and 14th.

Lake-Effect Snow, Cuyahoga

When: December 12, 1:00 PM EST to December 15, 1:00 AM EST
Where: Cuyahoga forecast zone
Property damage: $300,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.479, -81.678 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy lake effect snow fell on portions of Cuyahoga County from the afternoon hours of December 12th through the early morning hours of December 15th. Snowfall totals ranged from just a few inches at the western end of the county to over 15 inches in the southeast. A peak total of 16.8 inches was reported at Solon. Snowfall rates with the heaviest bands of snow exceeded an inch per hour. Northwest winds gusted to as much as 30 mph on the 13th. The snow and gusty winds combined to create near zero visibilities and considerable blowing and drifting. Travel was treacherous during this event. Many school districts were closed or delayed on the 13th and 14th.

Lake-Effect Snow, Geauga

When: December 12, 1:00 PM EST to December 15, 1:00 AM EST
Where: Geauga forecast zone
Property damage: $250,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.500, -81.179 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy lake effect snow fell on most of Geauga County from the afternoon hours of December 12th through the early morning hours of December 15th. Snowfall totals over the county generally ranged from 10 to 16 inches. A peak total of 19.0 inches was reported in Russell Township. Snowfall rates with the heaviest bands of snow exceeded an inch per hour. Northwest winds gusted to as much as 30 mph on the 13th. The snow and gusty winds combined to create near zero visibilities and considerable blowing and drifting. Travel was treacherous during this event. Many school districts were closed or delayed on the 13th and 14th.

Lake-Effect Snow, Lake

When: December 12, 1:00 PM EST to December 14, 9:00 PM EST
Where: Lake forecast zone
Property damage: $200,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.714, -81.245 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy lake effect snow fell on portions of Lake County from the afternoon hours of December 12th through the evening hours of December 14th. Snowfall totals ranged from just a few inches to around a foot. A peak total of 12.0 inches was reported at South Madison. Snowfall rates with the heaviest bands of snow exceeded and inch per hour. Northwest winds gusted to as much as 30 mph on the 13th. The snow and gusty winds combined to create near zero visibilities and considerable blowing and drifting. Travel was treacherous during this event. Many school districts were closed or delayed on the 13th and 14th.

Lake-Effect Snow, Trumbull

When: December 12, 2:00 PM EST to December 15, 3:00 AM EST
Where: Trumbull forecast zone
Property damage: $250,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.317, -80.761 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy lake effect snow fell on portions of Trumbull County from the afternoon hours of December 12th through the early morning hours of December 15th. Snowfall totals ranged from just a few inches in the southeastern corner of the county to over two feet in the northeast. A peak total of 29.5 inches was reported at Kinsman. Snowfall rates with the heaviest bands of snow approached two inches per hour. Northwest winds gusted to as much as 30 mph on the 13th. The snow and gusty winds combined to create near zero visibilities and considerable blowing and drifting. Travel was treacherous during this event. Officially, 14.5 inches of snow was measured at the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport on December 12th through the 14th. Many school districts were closed or delayed on the 13th and 14th.

What these are

Lake-Effect Snow: Heavy snow in bands downwind of a large lake as cold air crosses warmer water.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Ohio in 2010 Every state in 2010 This day in weather history Warnings in Ohio, December 2010

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 271007, 271002, 271003, 271004, 271005, 271006, 271009, 271001.