Name: Lake-Effect Snow in Ohio, December 14 to 16, 2016
Start: 2016-12-14T21:00
End: 2016-12-16T04:00
Location: Ohio

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 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: $1.4 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 6

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.

A cold front moved across northern Ohio on December 14th. Cold westerly winds behind the front caused lake effect snow showers to develop by late evening on the 14th. The winds initially had a slight southerly component so the initial snow showers developed along the Lake Erie shoreline from around Painesville up the lake to near Conneaut. Winds became due west by midnight on the 15th and eventually west northwest. As this occurred the snow showers spread slowly inland. By 1 am on the 15th a band of intense lake effect snow stretched from northeastern Lorain County across Cuyahoga and Geauga Counties and into southern Ashtabula County. The band drifted very, very slowly south the next several hours. It reached Cleveland Hopkins around 6 am causing visibilities to drop to a half mile just as the morning push of aircraft were scheduled to depart. The band eventually sagged south into northern Medina and northern Summit counties were it finally dissipated. Snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches were reported from this band during the middle of the night. This heavy snow caused major traffic issues in the Cleveland Metro area with many accident and long delays for the morning commute. Winds gusted to as much as 30 mph during the morning event causing much blowing and drifting and further reducing visibilities. A second round of the lake effect began to develop late in the afternoon of the 15th. The focus for these snow showers was mainly Lake County but Geauga and Ashtabula Counties were also impacted. By 9 pm an intense band of snow bisected Lake County and stretched into northern Geauga County. The band persisted for several hours before finally dissipating during the early morning hours of the 16th. This band also had snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour. The morning snow showers produced a swath of 6 to 8 inches of snow with similar totals from the evening snow showers. Some of the higher totals in Cuyahoga County include: 8.5 inches at Lakewood, 8.0 inches in Garfield Heights with 7.8 inches at Kamm's Corners. In Geauga County a peak of 8.8 inches was measured at Chardon with 8.0 inches at the opposite end of the county near Chagrin Falls. In Ashtabula County a peak of 11.9 inches was reported at Pierpont with most of it falling during the early morning. Other totals from Ashtabula County include 10.3 inches in Monroe Township with 9.5 inches at Jefferson and 7.2 inches at Roaming Shores. In Lake County 8.2 inches fell at Mentor with 8.0 inches at South Madison. In Lorain County, a peak total of around 7 inches was reported in the northeastern tip of county. Many schools were delayed or closed on the 15th.

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 14, 6:35 PM EST, 2 hours 25 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 14, 6:35 PM EST, 2 hours 25 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
635 PM EST Wed Dec 14 2016

.SYNOPSIS...
A trough of low pressure will drop southeast across the snowbelt
early tonight. High pressure will move up the ohio valley thursday
night. Low pressure will come out of oklahoma friday night and move
northeast near toledo late saturday and into eastern canada by
sunday pulling another arctic cold front across the area. High
pressure will shift east over the region by monday.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY/...
Update...Watching lake effect bands offshore intensifying as they
move into parts of western NY. New band appears to be developing
just offshore of Lake county as it sags southeast although at
this time its not intense. This band will sag southeast onshore
likely within then next hour or two. Overnight winds will veer and
bring the bands into northeast Ohio. Graphics look good so no
significant changes to update.

Original...A trough of low pressure moving se thru the snowbelt
will help bring better moisture se into the area and shift lower
level winds from sw to west bringing lake effect bands of snow
back into the snowbelt. A mix of lake effect warnings and
advisories will be in place for the lake effect snow. Winds
gusting 30 to 35 mph...especially near the lakeshore will produce
considerable blowing and drifting of the snow.

The biggest issue for the rest of the cwa will be wind chill
readings that are expected to drop down around or a little below
minus 10 degrees tonight then continue fairly steady through
thursday night. A wind chill advisory will be in effect for the
dangerous wind chills thru thu night.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/...
The favorable lake effect conditions will taper down thu night into
fri morning with total accumulation for the event generally expected
to range from 6 to 14 inches across the core part of the snowbelt.
The two areas most likely to see the higher end accumulation will be
inland erie and northern crawford counties in pa and northern geauga
co and bordering areas in oh. Areas bordering the snowbelt could see
up to an inch of accumulation locally with no accumulation expected
for areas further to the south and west.

The dangerous wind chills thu and thu night are addressed in the
discussion above.

High pressure moves across oh into pa late thu night into fri
causing winds to back to the south fri allowing temps to start to
moderate somewhat after highs only about 9 to 15 on thu to mostly 15
to 20 on fri.

Moisture also starts to return by late in the day fri with the warm
front acting as a focus for snow to develop eastward, possibly
spreading into the western counties by the end of the day. The snow
will spread over the cwa fri night...however warmer air rapidly
pushing north will start to change the snow to a mixture of wintry
precipitation in the south toward the end of the night. The question
for fzra is whether temps will rise to get above freezing by the
time the warmer temps aloft no longer are cold enough for snow.

The transition from snow and wintry precip from south to north will
continue thru midday sat with the precip for sat afternoon expected
to mostly just be rain. Once the low moves north of lake erie sat
night the precip will change back to snow from west to east while
the precip also taper off at about the same time so not a lot of
accumulation is expected.

Temps by late sat afternoon should be 40 or higher for a good part
of the cwa. Lows by the end of sat night likely will range from
around 20 in the far nw to the upper 20s in the east.

&&

.LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Cold front will likely be east of the area on Sunday with snow
showers lingering into the afternoon. The greatest coverage in snow
showers will be across the Snowbelt. These snow showers may linger
into Monday afternoon before high pressure finally takes control of
the entire region. This large area of high pressure, which has a
pressure of 1040+ mb, will then dominate the weather across the
region into the middle of the week.

Temperatures will be below seasonal averages through the long term.
Lows for inland locations under the 1040+mb high will be able to dip
to around zero Sunday night and Monday night if skies clear as
anticipated.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z Thursday THROUGH Monday/...
Lake effect snow showers currently over Lake Erie will work their
way on shore later this evening, first near KERI and then
eventually near or just east of KCLE later tonight.

Snow showers with the front will assist in bringing ceilings down
to mvfr levels. It will be slower to occur across inland sites
from KFDY to KMFD. Lake effect snow showers will increase in
coverage and intensity after midnight and wobble across the
snowbelt. Have attempted to time the heavier bands across the
sites in the snowbelt. Expect IFR conditions in the bands of
heavier snow.

Winds will shift to the west and increase over the next couple of
hours. Gusts 25 to a little over 30 knots will be possible.

OUTLOOK...Non VFR lingers into Friday in the Snowbelt due to snow
showers then widespread non VFR spreads over the region Friday
night and continues until shifting back into just the Snowbelt by
late Sunday.

&&

.MARINE...
Winds will be on the increase tonight. Greatest jump in the winds
will be in the wake of a strong cold front that will cross the area
this evening. Expect gales to develop during the evening and
continue into Thursday evening. Since we have westerly gales the
water levels across the Western Basin will likely drop below
critical levels. Current forecasts from GLERL take the water level
about 15 inches below the critical level. As winds decrease Thursday
evening water levels should stabilize. Winds will then gradually
shift to the southwest on Friday then a southerly direction on
Saturday as the next storm system moves toward the region.

&&

.CLE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OH...Lake Effect Snow Advisory until 10 AM EST Friday for OHZ011-
     012-014-089.
     Lake Effect Snow Warning until 10 AM EST Friday for OHZ013.
     Wind Chill Advisory from 10 PM this evening to 10 AM EST
     Friday for OHZ003-006>010-017>023-027>033-036>038-047.
PA...Lake Effect Snow Advisory until 10 AM EST Friday for PAZ001.
     Lake Effect Snow Warning until 10 AM EST Friday for PAZ002-003.
MARINE...Gale Warning until 10 PM EST Thursday for LEZ061-142>149-
     162>169.
     Low Water Advisory until 5 PM EST Thursday for LEZ142>144-
     162>164.

&&

SYNOPSIS...Adams
NEAR TERM...Adams/TK
SHORT TERM...Adams
LONG TERM...Mullen
AVIATION...Mottice
MARINE...Mullen

Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 14, 5:30 AM EST, 15 hours 30 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OH
530 AM EST WED DEC 14 2016

PAZ002-151030-
SOUTHERN ERIE-
530 AM EST WED DEC 14 2016

...LAKE EFFECT SNOW WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 4 AM
EST FRIDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

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

   LAKE EFFECT SNOW WARNING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

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

   LAKE EFFECT SNOW WARNING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME BUT SNOWFALL REPORTS
ARE APPRECIATED.

PAZ001-151030-
NORTHERN ERIE-
530 AM EST WED DEC 14 2016

...LAKE EFFECT SNOW ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO
4 AM EST FRIDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

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

   LAKE EFFECT SNOW ADVISORY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

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

   LAKE EFFECT SNOW ADVISORY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME BUT SNOWFALL REPORTS
ARE APPRECIATED.

OHZ011>014-089-PAZ003-151030-
CUYAHOGA-LAKE-GEAUGA-ASHTABULA INLAND-ASHTABULA LAKESHORE-CRAWFORD-
530 AM EST WED DEC 14 2016

...LAKE EFFECT SNOW WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH LATE
THURSDAY NIGHT...

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

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

   LAKE EFFECT SNOW WATCH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

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

   LAKE EFFECT SNOW WATCH.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME BUT SNOWFALL REPORTS
ARE APPRECIATED.

OHZ021>023-151030-
SUMMIT-PORTAGE-TRUMBULL-
530 AM EST WED DEC 14 2016

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST OHIO.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

LAKE EFFECT SNOW WILL BRING OCCASIONAL SNOW SHOWERS LATE TONIGHT
INTO THURSDAY. A FEW INCHES OF ACCUMULATION ARE EXPECTED, MAINLY
ACROSS NORTHERN PORTIONS OF SUMMIT...PORTAGE...AND TRUMBULL
COUNTIES. SNOW MAY BE HEAVY AT TIMES.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

VERY COLD ARCTIC AIR IS EXPECTED TO SPREAD OVER THE AREA THROUGH
THURSDAY. WINDCHILL READINGS WILL FALL TO BETWEEN 5 BELOW AND 15
BELOW AT TIMES.

OCCASIONAL LAKE EFFECT SNOW SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE ON THURSDAY AND
MAY BE HEAVY AT TIMES.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME BUT SNOWFALL REPORTS
ARE APPRECIATED.

OHZ003-006>010-017>020-027>033-036>038-047-151030-
LUCAS-WOOD-OTTAWA-SANDUSKY-ERIE-LORAIN-HANCOCK-SENECA-HURON-MEDINA-
WYANDOT-CRAWFORD-RICHLAND-ASHLAND-WAYNE-STARK-MAHONING-MARION-MORROW-
HOLMES-KNOX-
530 AM EST WED DEC 14 2016

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

VERY COLD ARCTIC AIR IS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE OVERNIGHT. WIND CHILL
VALUES OF ZERO TO 10 BELOW ZERO ARE EXPECTED OVERNIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

VERY COLD ARCTIC AIR WILL REMAIN OVER THE REGION THROUGH THURSDAY
NIGHT. WINDCHILL READINGS MAY DROP BETWEEN 5 BELOW AND 15 BELOW
AT TIMES. THE COLDEST AIR WILL GENERALLY BE SOUTH OF ROUTE 30.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

LEZ061-142>149-162>169-151030-
LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM RIPLEY TO BUFFALO NY-
LAKE ERIE NEARSHORE WATERS FROM MAUMEE BAY TO RENO BEACH OH-
LAKE ERIE NEARSHORE WATERS FROM RENO BEACH TO THE ISLANDS OH-
LAKE ERIE NEARSHORE WATERS FROM THE ISLANDS TO VERMILION OH-
LAKE ERIE NEARSHORE WATERS FROM VERMILION TO AVON POINT OH-
LAKE ERIE NEARSHORE WATERS FROM AVON POINT TO WILLOWICK OH-
LAKE ERIE NEARSHORE WATERS FROM WILLOWICK TO GENEVA-ON-THE LAKE OH-
LAKE ERIE NEARSHORE WATERS FROM GENEVA-ON-THE-LAKE TO CONNEAUT OH-
LAKE ERIE NEARSHORE WATERS FROM CONNEAUT OH TO RIPLEY NY-
LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM MAUMEE BAY TO RENO BEACH OH-
LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM RENO BEACH TO THE ISLANDS OH-
LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM THE ISLANDS TO VERMILION OH-
LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM VERMILION TO AVON POINT OH-
LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM AVON POINT TO WILLOWICK OH-
LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM WILLOWICK TO GENEVA-ON-THE-LAKE OH-
LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM GENEVA-ON-THE-LAKE TO CONNEAUT OH-
LAKE ERIE OPEN WATERS FROM CONNEAUT OH TO RIPLEY NY-
530 AM EST WED DEC 14 2016

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 10 PM EST
THURSDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR LAKE ERIE.

.DAY ONE...TODAY 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.

THE STRONG SOUTHWEST TO WEST WINDS EXPECTED TODAY THROUGH
THURSDAY COULD CREATE LOW WATER CONDITIONS FOR SAFE NAVIGATION IN
THE WESTERN BASIN OF LAKE ERIE STARTING AS EARLY AS THIS
AFTERNOON.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

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

   GALE WARNING.

LOW WATER CONDITIONS REMAIN POSSIBLE ON THE WESTERN BASIN OF LAKE
ERIE ON THURSDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

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

Lake-Effect Snow, Lake

When: December 14, 9:00 PM EST to December 16, 4:00 AM EST
Where: Lake forecast zone
Property damage: $250,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.714, -81.245 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A cold front moved across northern Ohio on December 14th. Cold westerly winds behind the front caused lake effect snow showers to develop by late evening on the 14th. The winds initially had a slight southerly component so the initial snow showers developed along the Lake Erie shoreline from around Painesville up the lake to near Conneaut. Winds became due west by midnight on the 15th and eventually west northwest. As this occurred the snow showers spread slowly inland. By 1 am on the 15th a band of intense lake effect snow stretched from northeastern Lorain County across Cuyahoga and Geauga Counties and into southern Ashtabula County. The band drifted very, very slowly south the next several hours. It reached Cleveland Hopkins around 6 am causing visibilities to drop to a half mile just as the morning push of aircraft were scheduled to depart. The band eventually sagged south into northern Medina and northern Summit counties were it finally dissipated. Snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches were reported from this band during the middle of the night. This heavy snow caused major traffic issues in the Cleveland Metro area with many accident and long delays for the morning commute. Winds gusted to as much as 30 mph during the morning event causing much blowing and drifting and further reducing visibilities. A second round of the lake effect began to develop late in the afternoon of the 15th. The focus for these snow showers was mainly Lake County but Geauga and Ashtabula Counties were also impacted. By 9 pm an intense band of snow bisected Lake County and stretched into northern Geauga County. The band persisted for several hours before finally dissipating during the early morning hours of the 16th. This band also had snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour. The morning snow showers produced a swath of 6 to 8 inches of snow with similar totals from the evening snow showers. In Lake County 8.2 inches fell at Mentor with 8.0 inches at South Madison. Many schools were delayed or closed on the 15th.

Lake-Effect Snow, Ashtabula Lakeshore

When: December 14, 9:00 PM EST to December 16, 3:00 AM EST
Where: Ashtabula Lakeshore forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.896, -80.759 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A cold front moved across northern Ohio on December 14th. Cold westerly winds behind the front caused lake effect snow showers to develop by late evening on the 14th. The winds initially had a slight southerly component so the initial snow showers developed along the Lake Erie shoreline from around Painesville up the lake to near Conneaut. Winds became due west by midnight on the 15th and eventually west northwest. As this occurred the snow showers spread slowly inland. By 1 am on the 15th a band of intense lake effect snow stretched from northeastern Lorain County across Cuyahoga and Geauga Counties and into southern Ashtabula County. The band drifted very, very slowly south the next several hours. It reached Cleveland Hopkins around 6 am causing visibilities to drop to a half mile just as the morning push of aircraft were scheduled to depart. The band eventually sagged south into northern Medina and northern Summit counties were it finally dissipated. Snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches were reported from this band during the middle of the night. This heavy snow caused major traffic issues in the Cleveland Metro area with many accident and long delays for the morning commute. Winds gusted to as much as 30 mph during the morning event causing much blowing and drifting and further reducing visibilities. A second round of the lake effect began to develop late in the afternoon of the 15th. The focus for these snow showers was mainly Lake County but Geauga and Ashtabula Counties were also impacted. By 9 pm an intense band of snow bisected Lake County and stretched into northern Geauga County. The band persisted for several hours before finally dissipating during the early morning hours of the 16th. This band also had snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour. The morning snow showers produced a swath of 6 to 8 inches of snow with similar totals from the evening snow showers. In Ashtabula County a peak of 11.9 inches was reported at Pierpont with most of it falling during the early morning. Other totals from Ashtabula County include 10.3 inches in Monroe Township with 9.5 inches at Jefferson and 7.2 inches at Roaming Shores. In Lake County 8.2 inches fell at Mentor with 8.0 inches at South Madison. Many schools were delayed or closed on the 15th.

Lake-Effect Snow, Ashtabula

When: December 14, 9:00 PM EST to December 16, 3:00 AM EST
Where: Ashtabula forecast zone
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.896, -80.759 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A cold front moved across northern Ohio on December 14th. Cold westerly winds behind the front caused lake effect snow showers to develop by late evening on the 14th. The winds initially had a slight southerly component so the initial snow showers developed along the Lake Erie shoreline from around Painesville up the lake to near Conneaut. Winds became due west by midnight on the 15th and eventually west northwest. As this occurred the snow showers spread slowly inland. By 1 am on the 15th a band of intense lake effect snow stretched from northeastern Lorain County across Cuyahoga and Geauga Counties and into southern Ashtabula County. The band drifted very, very slowly south the next several hours. It reached Cleveland Hopkins around 6 am causing visibilities to drop to a half mile just as the morning push of aircraft were scheduled to depart. The band eventually sagged south into northern Medina and northern Summit counties were it finally dissipated. Snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches were reported from this band during the middle of the night. This heavy snow caused major traffic issues in the Cleveland Metro area with many accident and long delays for the morning commute. Winds gusted to as much as 30 mph during the morning event causing much blowing and drifting and further reducing visibilities. A second round of the lake effect began to develop late in the afternoon of the 15th. The focus for these snow showers was mainly Lake County but Geauga and Ashtabula Counties were also impacted. By 9 pm an intense band of snow bisected Lake County and stretched into northern Geauga County. The band persisted for several hours before finally dissipating during the early morning hours of the 16th. This band also had snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour. The morning snow showers produced a swath of 6 to 8 inches of snow with similar totals from the evening snow showers. In Ashtabula County a peak of 11.9 inches was reported at Pierpont with most of it falling during the early morning. Other totals from Ashtabula County include 10.3 inches in Monroe Township with 9.5 inches at Jefferson and 7.2 inches at Roaming Shores. Many schools were delayed or closed on the 15th.

Lake-Effect Snow, Geauga

When: December 14, 10:00 PM EST to December 16, 3:00 AM EST
Where: Geauga forecast zone
Property damage: $200,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.500, -81.179 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A cold front moved across northern Ohio on December 14th. Cold westerly winds behind the front caused lake effect snow showers to develop by late evening on the 14th. The winds initially had a slight southerly component so the initial snow showers developed along the Lake Erie shoreline from around Painesville up the lake to near Conneaut. Winds became due west by midnight on the 15th and eventually west northwest. As this occurred the snow showers spread slowly inland. By 1 am on the 15th a band of intense lake effect snow stretched from northeastern Lorain County across Cuyahoga and Geauga Counties and into southern Ashtabula County. The band drifted very, very slowly south the next several hours. It reached Cleveland Hopkins around 6 am causing visibilities to drop to a half mile just as the morning push of aircraft were scheduled to depart. The band eventually sagged south into northern Medina and northern Summit counties were it finally dissipated. Snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches were reported from this band during the middle of the night. This heavy snow caused major traffic issues in the Cleveland Metro area with many accident and long delays for the morning commute. Winds gusted to as much as 30 mph during the morning event causing much blowing and drifting and further reducing visibilities. A second round of the lake effect began to develop late in the afternoon of the 15th. The focus for these snow showers was mainly Lake County but Geauga and Ashtabula Counties were also impacted. By 9 pm an intense band of snow bisected Lake County and stretched into northern Geauga County. The band persisted for several hours before finally dissipating during the early morning hours of the 16th. This band also had snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour. The morning snow showers produced a swath of 6 to 8 inches of snow with similar totals from the evening snow showers. In Geauga County a peak of 8.8 inches was measured at Chardon with 8.0 inches at the opposite end of the county near Chagrin Falls. Many schools were delayed or closed on the 15th.

Lake-Effect Snow, Cuyahoga

When: December 15, 12:00 AM EST to 10:00 AM EST
Where: Cuyahoga forecast zone
Property damage: $500,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.479, -81.678 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A cold front moved across northern Ohio on December 14th. Cold westerly winds behind the front caused lake effect snow showers to develop by late evening on the 14th. The winds initially had a slight southerly component so the initial snow showers developed along the Lake Erie shoreline from around Painesville up the lake to near Conneaut. Winds became due west by midnight on the 15th and eventually west northwest. As this occurred the snow showers spread slowly inland. By 1 am on the 15th a band of intense lake effect snow stretched from northeastern Lorain County across Cuyahoga and Geauga Counties and into southern Ashtabula County. The band drifted very, very slowly south the next several hours. It reached Cleveland Hopkins around 6 am causing visibilities to drop to a half mile just as the morning push of aircraft were scheduled to depart. The band eventually sagged south into northern Medina and northern Summit counties were it finally dissipated. Snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches were reported from this band during the middle of the night. This heavy snow caused major traffic issues in the Cleveland Metro area with many accident and long delays for the morning commute. Winds gusted to as much as 30 mph during the morning event causing much blowing and drifting and further reducing visibilities. Some of the higher totals in Cuyahoga County include: 8.5 inches at Lakewood, 8.0 inches in Garfield Heights with 7.8 inches at Kamm's Corners. Many schools were delayed or closed on the 15th.

Lake-Effect Snow, Lorain

When: December 15, 1:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Lorain forecast zone
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 41.453, -82.151 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A cold front moved across northern Ohio on December 14th. Cold westerly winds behind the front caused lake effect snow showers to develop by late evening on the 14th. The winds initially had a slight southerly component so the initial snow showers developed along the Lake Erie shoreline from around Painesville up the lake to near Conneaut. Winds became due west by midnight on the 15th and eventually west northwest. As this occurred the snow showers spread slowly inland. By 1 am on the 15th a band of intense lake effect snow stretched from northeastern Lorain County across Cuyahoga and Geauga Counties and into southern Ashtabula County. The band drifted very, very slowly south the next several hours. It reached Cleveland Hopkins around 6 am causing visibilities to drop to a half mile just as the morning push of aircraft were scheduled to depart. The band eventually sagged south into northern Medina and northern Summit counties were it finally dissipated. Snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches were reported from this band during the middle of the night. This heavy snow caused major traffic issues in the Cleveland Metro area with many accident and long delays for the morning commute. Winds gusted to as much as 30 mph during the morning event causing much blowing and drifting and further reducing visibilities. In Lorain County, a peak total of around 7 inches was reported in the northeastern tip of county. Many schools were delayed or closed on the 15th.

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

More

Every storm in Ohio in 2016 Every state in 2016 This day in weather history Warnings in Ohio, December 2016

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: 668701, 668702, 668703, 668700, 668699, 668698.