Latest Snow Depth Reports - NORTHERN OHIO

Here are the latest NWS snow depth reports as of Wednesday morning at 10AM. Although the map doesn't show it, almost 18 inches in spots in the heart of the snow belt according to one report.

***********************SNOW ON GROUND***********************

LOCATION                 SNOW     TIME/DATE   COMMENTS
                     ON GROUND           OF
                     /INCHES/   MEASUREMENT

OHIO

...ASHTABULA COUNTY...
   PIERPONT 2SE          10.0   815 AM  1/23  TRAINED SPOTTER
   ASHTABULA              9.0   645 AM  1/23  TRAINED SPOTTER
   ASHTABULA 1SW          6.0   800 AM  1/23  TRAINED SPOTTER

...CRAWFORD COUNTY...
   NEW WASHINGTON 5S        T   817 AM  1/23  TRAINED SPOTTER
   1 NW BUCYRUS             T   700 AM  1/23  COCORAHS

...CUYAHOGA COUNTY...
   EUCLID                 6.0   819 AM  1/23  TRAINED SPOTTER
   CLEVELAND-EDGEWATER    2.0   829 AM  1/23  TRAINED SPOTTER
   GARFIELD HTS           1.0   748 AM  1/23  TRAINED SPOTTER
   CLEVELAND HOPKINS AI   1.0   700 AM  1/23  ASOS
   SOLON                  1.0   730 AM  1/23  TRAINED SPOTTER
   2 SE BRECKSVILLE       0.5   620 AM  1/23  COCORAHS

...GEAUGA COUNTY...
   1 SSE MONTVILLE       13.5   600 AM  1/23  COCORAHS
   THOMPSON 5SW          13.0   700 AM  1/23  TRAINED SPOTTER
   MONTVILLE             12.0   609 AM  1/23  TRAINED SPOTTER
   CHARDON               12.0   610 AM  1/23  TRAINED SPOTTER
   SOUTH MADSION         10.0   739 AM  1/23  TRAINED SPOTTER
   CLARIDON TWP           9.0   807 AM  1/23  TRAINED SPOTTER
   1 NE MIDDLEFIELD       7.5   800 AM  1/23  COCORAHS
   BURTON                 5.0   800 AM  1/23  TRAINED SPOTTER

...HURON COUNTY...
   NEW LONDON 3NW           T   838 AM  1/23  TRAINED SPOTTER

...LAKE COUNTY...
   1 SW KIRTLAND         14.5   700 AM  1/23  COCORAHS
   MADISON VILLAGE        7.0   702 AM  1/23  TRAINED SPOTTER
   MENTOR                 5.0   730 AM  1/23  TRAINED SPOTTER
   PERRY TOWNSHIP         5.0   655 AM  1/23  TRAINED SPOTTER
   WILLOUGHBY             4.0   904 AM  1/23  TRAINED SPOTTER
   MADISON-ON-THE-LAKE    3.0   752 AM  1/23  TRAINED SPOTTER

...LORAIN COUNTY...
   SE ELYRIA              1.5   810 AM  1/23  COCORAHS
   SHEFFIELD LAKE         1.0   837 AM  1/23  TRAINED SPOTTER
   1 E SHEFFIELD LAKE     0.5   830 AM  1/23  COCORAHS
   AVON                     T   855 AM  1/23  TRAINED SPOTTER

...LUCAS COUNTY...
   2 ENE TOLEDO             T   700 AM  1/23  COCORAHS
   TOLEDO EXPRESS AIRPO     T   700 AM  1/23  ASOS

...MEDINA COUNTY...
   BRUNSWICK              1.0   732 AM  1/23  TRAINED SPOTTER
   1 NE BRUNSWICK         0.5   700 AM  1/23  COCORAHS

...PORTAGE COUNTY...
   HIRAM                  1.0   849 AM  1/23  TRAINED SPOTTER
   N HIRAM                0.8   800 AM  1/23  COCORAHS
   2 SSW STREETSBORO      0.7   700 AM  1/23  COCORAHS

...RICHLAND COUNTY...
   MANSFIELD LAHM AIRPO   1.0   700 AM  1/23  ASOS

...SANDUSKY COUNTY...
   E LINDSEY              0.5   500 AM  1/23  COCORAHS

...SUMMIT COUNTY...
   CAK AIRPORT            1.0   700 AM  1/23  ASOS
   STOW                   1.0   913 AM  1/23  TRAINED SPOTTER
   TWINSBURG                T   700 AM  1/23  TRAINED SPOTTER

...TRUMBULL COUNTY...
   MESOPOTAMIA            3.0   954 AM  1/23  TRAINED SPOTTER
   YOUNGSTOWN WARREN AI   2.0   700 AM  1/23  ASOS

...WAYNE COUNTY...
   1 N KIDRON               T   700 AM  1/23  COCORAHS

Lake effect continues out east.....HERE IS THE NWS CURRENT RADAR LOOP LINK

How Much Lake Effect Next 2 Days?

Snow in Geneva - Rt 20

Science is harder to understand than buying into conspiracy theories or old wives' tales.
People like a good narrative versus unbiased science or weather explanations on why forecasts are difficult. Stories are easier to digest. Science is not. People feel conflicted with science so they grasp unsubstantiated theories or stories to make them feel at ease. That's my psychology 101 lesson of the day. :) Quiz tomorrow...

Such is the case with Lake Effect Snow. The science of lake effect is well documented. Yet the official forecasts are riddled with ranges like 8-12" or 7-14". These type of ranges are not what the public wants. They want certainty. They want something cut-and-dry. They want exact numbers for their town. Most times, its not possible. Lake Effect Forecasts are a mix of science w/ alot of uncertainty; randomness and a dash of art! Or as a colleague of mine once said: "Its like nailing Jello to a wall." 

                                 ---------------------------------------------------------

We already looked at the different variables that go into lake effect snow prediction in my previous post. The one element that really stands out Tuesday is the difference between the 5000 foot level and the lake water temperature. Once the difference gets above 13 degrees (in celsius), the amount of lift/evaporation becomes significant enough to create lake effect snow  Tomorrow, the difference hits 28!  Back in January of 2009, we had a similar situation regarding the cold air aloft.

What was the high that day? How about 6

Light snow in Carollton, Ohio Monday morning

The heaviest and more widespread lake effect snow will develop this evening, tonight and tomorrow as the coldest air in 4 years moves across the area! Here are the headlines:


* Expect to hear some thunder tomorrow *
* Wind Chill will drop to 10 below! *

The winds will shift from the WSW to the WNW tonight and tomorrow which will shift any lake effect snow south. Some areas that need to be watched are LORAIN, WESTLAKE and southern CUYAHOGA COUNTY. The second map shows the TOTAL accumulations from today through early Wednesday. Most of this will fall late tonight and TUESDAY.

Pockets of lake effect mainly east today as winds are out of the west and WSW. Not much accumulation south of Cleveland...an inch or two. Temps stay around 20 with wind chills in the single digits. Here are accumulations for TODAY ONLY

More updates as needed!