Funviralpark Cautions, warnings, notes
According to the National Weather Service, the following counties have a Winter Storm Warning from 1:00 a.m. Dec. 23 to 10:00 a.m. Dec. 24, and a Cold Wind Warning through 10:00 a.m. Dec. 24 .
- Ashtabra
- Cuyahoga
- Erie
- Geoga
- Huron
- lake
- Lorraine
- Medina
- Portage
- summit
- Stark
- Ottawa
- Sandusky
- Seneca
- Richland
- Ashland
- Holmes
- Wayne
- Trumbull
In addition, wind chill advisories and wind warnings have been issued for Tuskawas, Coshocton and Carroll counties and are in effect through Saturday morning.
Map of current winter weather alerts:
Check out the NEWS 5 interactive radar below.
threat and impact
When wind gusts reach 60 mph, wind chill values can go as low as -25 degrees below zero. This can cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.
The NWS has warned that some areas will make travel difficult or impossible, and snowstorms could significantly reduce visibility. Dangerous conditions can seriously affect your Friday morning commute or holiday trip.
A short, heavy snowfall is possible as the cold front moves through Friday morning. Temperatures will drop sharply in the next few hours as Thursday night’s freezing temperatures drop into single digits by Friday afternoon. This occurrence can cause flash freezes, which can be very slick.
Strong winds can damage trees, topple power lines, and blow loose objects.
After Friday, the lake’s intensifying snow is expected to continue along its shores through most of Saturday and possibly through Sunday.
total snowfall
Total snowfall for this event can exceed 4-6 inches, especially in areas near Lake Erie. The model is not entirely clear.
coming storm timeline
Thursday
Spotty showers are likely on Thursday, creating layers of water on roads and bridges. A strong Arctic cold front will move in late Thursday night through Friday morning.
Friday
Temperatures drop quickly from 30 to 40 to 10 degrees in the early morning, causing water on untreated surfaces to freeze quickly.
With the cold front, there will be temporary snowfall. Winds can be around 30-40 mph. Frozen roads make movement difficult. If you don’t have to go out, stay home.
Winds will pick up in the afternoon, reaching 50-60 mph. The wind blows snow and reduces visibility on the road, exacerbating the situation. Temperatures will continue to drop to dangerous numbers Friday night through Saturday.
Saturday
Temperatures will stay in the single digits, with wind chills reaching -15 degrees.
Sunday
Strong winds up to 50 miles per hour and freezing temperatures are expected to continue through Christmas Day.
get ready
Have an emergency kit and a plan ready. Have a flashlight, extra batteries, a first aid kit, non-perishable food, and warm clothing in case the power goes out.
Make sure your car has a full tank of gas, the heater is working, and all fluids are topped up in case you need to travel in an emergency. Bring a jumper cable, a snow brush, a small shovel and litter for the kittens.
blackout
Visit our Outages page to see current outages in Northeast Ohio and find links to report outages.
Traffic impact
Turnpike bans high-profile vehicles
ohio turnpike issued a travel ban Applies to the full turnpike length of certain high-profile vehicles on Fridays at 6am.The ban is expected to expire at 8am on Sunday
ohio turnpike
No Parking
Already implemented in multiple communities. Check your local jurisdiction.
View the News 5 Traffic Map to see weather road closures and delays, or weather crashes.
Warming Center Available
Several organizations and local governments are activating warming centers, some of which are providing accommodation and hot food and drinks.
Click here to read a complete list of warming centers you can evacuate to in northeastern Ohio.
Closure of major business
Akron Zoo — closed December 23
Cleveland Museum of Natural History — closed December 23
Cleveland Botanical Garden — closed December 23
Holden Arboretum — closed December 23
Winter Blitz at the Hall of Fame Village — closed December 23
Stan Highwet Hall and Gardens — closed December 23
Many other businesses are closed as well.
Send us your photos, videos and weather reports
Your footage helps us better understand how the storm is impacting our community. Don’t risk yourself to take bad weather photos and videos. You can email photos and short videos to [email protected] (please include time, date and location). Email storm reports and information to [email protected].
You can also submit your information using the form on the Contact Us page here. For files larger than 10MB, please use a file sharing service such as DropBox or WeTransfer.
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