Up To 13 Inches Of Snow Could Bury Ohioans This Week

CLEVELAND, OH — Heavy rain could turn into heavy snowfall Thursday night and Friday morning. More than a foot of snow could fall in Northeast and Central Ohio, the National Weather Service said. Snow could fall at a rate of one to two inches an hour.

The snowfall is expected to start at 7 p.m. on Thursday and continue until noon on Friday. Expect morning commutes to be rough sledding and build-in extra time to get to work.

Cuyahoga, Lake and Ashtabula counties are all under a winter storm warning. Those counties are already watching out for minor flooding and high wind damage as rainy storms blow into the region.

"Low pressure will track across Central Ohio this afternoon reaching Pennsylvania this evening. As the low moves east of the area, colder air will wrap into the system quickly changing the rain over to snow," the National Weather Service said.

Before the winter storm arrives, most Ohioans will have a rainy, possibly flooded, drive home.

High winds and more than inch of rain are leading to minor flooding throughout parts of Ohio, the National Weather Service said. Gusts of wind could hit 50 mph starting Thursday afternoon and continuing into Thursday evening, combined with heavy rainfall that could make for dangerous driving conditions.

The NWS has issued a wind advisory for much of Northeast Ohio, including Lorain, Cuyahoga, Geauga and Summit counties. The agency said lightweight objects could be thrown about by the winds and tree branches and power lines could be knocked down.

In the same areas, the agency is saying, "More moderate to locally heavy rain is expected today. Some areas could see an inch of rain which could lead to minor flooding problems." Those conditions could also lead to dangerous driving with strong winds and heavy rain reducing visibility.

Look for local rivers and streams to possibly overflow throughout Thursday. Valley View has been historically suspect to flooding and residents who either get on or off of the I-271 using routes through that city should use caution.

Photo from Shutterstock