Notice: Expect Lake-Effect Snow and Strong Winds from Wednesday to Thursday Morning

CLEVELAND — Winter weather returns as we usher in the new year, leading us to issue a Weather Impact Alert.

Temperatures are expected to drop with rain transitioning to wet snow overnight. Despite the colder weather, temperatures will remain above freezing. The ground is still warm and soaked from recent rain and warmth.

RELATED: Lake effect snow warning issued for several Northeast Ohio counties starting Wednesday

Due to these conditions, a significant amount of the snowfall tonight will struggle to stick and build up. At most, there may be a slushy dusting to an inch in some areas that experience heavier snow bands.

January 1st, 2025 will bring colder and breezy conditions, making it feel more like the 20s throughout the day. Snow will gradually shift to predominantly lake-effect snow on Wednesday.

That snow could really start to add up, especially for the snowbelt as temperatures fall below freezing Wednesday evening. Lake-effect snow will continue Wednesday night and into at least Thursday morning. 

Areas of the primary snowbelt have the best potential for higher accumulations. We will have lake snow warnings in place for Wednesday and part of Thursday for the snowbelt counties. Some of these areas could have totals around 6-10 inches, and locally, higher totals could be possible, especially for Geauga County. 

This more wintery pattern will stick around for the foreseeable future. Highs will be in the 20s to low 30s with snow potential, especially lake effect, through at least the middle of the month.