913
FXUS61 KCLE 271208
AFDCLE

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
708 AM EST Thu Nov 27 2025

.SYNOPSIS...
Low pressure centered over the northern Great Lakes region will
maintain a surface trough over the area through Friday. A very brief
area of high pressure will push east on Saturday before another
system moves from the Southern Plains northeast across the region on
Sunday. High pressure returns for the start of next week.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY/...
Far Northeast Ohio/Northwest Pennsylvania (snowbelt):

As a strong low pressure system centered over southeast Ontario
continue to move east, a dominant surface trough will linger across
the area bringing a notable lake effect snow event to the snowbelt
in NE OH and NW PA. Heavy lake effect snow has already begun to
develop across Lake Erie, pushing northeast towards NY. As the upper
level trough axis pushes east of the area, the predominant southwest
flow will begin to back and gain a more west-northwest flow. This
will cause this band of lake effect snow to begin to push inland.
Currently models suggest that this process will begin around 9Z
today for Erie County PA and by 12Z elsewhere. Much of the forecast
remains unchanged in terms of timing and location of lake effect
snow with this update so not going to rehash all the mesoscale
details. The only this that did change a bit was the total snowfall
expected across northern Geauga and south Lake Counties. Hi-res
guidance has become more consistent in a strong convergence zone
developing over this area this afternoon into tonight, further
enhancing any bands that develop. As a result, with this forecast
update have opted to increase snowfall totals in Lake County (south
of I-90), far eastern Cuyahoga County, and northern Geauga County
to be 12-15 inches. Depending where the band sets up and how long it
lingers over a specific area, locally higher totals are possible.
Elsewhere across the snowbelt, a broad 8-15 inches of snowfall are
possible with higher amounts in excess of 18 inches possible across
inland Erie PA. Given the very conducive environment for lake
effect, snowfall rates of 1-2 inches per hour will be possible at
times in the heaviest bands. These rates will not impact the entire
warning area simultaneously given the nature of lake effect, so
expected rapidly changing conditions if traveling through the
snowbelt. This heavy snowfall is expected to impact the holiday
travel and motorist should use extreme caution with the worst
conditions expected today and tonight. Conditions will gradually
improve on Friday as the surface trough begins to push further east
and lake effect snow showers become more disorganized and drier air
pushes in. A Lake Effect Snow warning remains in effect for the
snowbelt through Friday evening.

In addition to the heavy snow expected to fall, elevated winds from
the WNW along the lakeshore will likely result in areas of blowing
snow through tonight. Wind gusts of 45 to 50 mph are expected to
persist into tonight which will further enhance hazardous travel
conditions with blowing/drifting snow and reduced visibilities
likely. Winds will gradually calm throughout the day on Friday. A
Wind Advisory remains in effect for this area through late tonight.

High temperatures through this period will be much cooler than
recent temperatures with highs only climbing into the low to mid 30s
and overnight lows falling into the low to mid 20s. Given the strong
winds, wind chill temperatures today and tomorrow will drop into the
low 20s. Overnight wind chill values are expected to drop into the
low to mid teens. It is worth noting that temperatures along the
immediate lakeshore will be a degree or two warmer due to influence
from Lake Erie.

Areas Outside of the Snowbelt:

The aforementioned strong low pressure will continue to impact the
rest of the area as well, but the bulk of conditions should remain
dry outside of the snowbelt. There is a slight chance that once
winds shift to more northwesterly, lake effect bands off of Lake
Michigan may meander southeast across northwest Ohio and the central
highlands and result in scattered snow showers. This snow potential
should be isolated to today and tonight before conditions dry out on
Friday. In addition, gusty winds will linger across the entire area
today with sustained winds of 15-25 mph and gusts of 40-45 mph
possible. Although winds will remain elevated, given the weakening
gusts, winds will fall below criteria for a Wind Advisory so the
ongoing one will be allowed to expire at 4AM today.


For the entire area, high temperatures through this period will be
much cooler than recent temperatures with highs only climbing into
the low to mid 30s and overnight lows falling into the low to mid
20s. Given the strong winds, wind chill temperatures today and
tomorrow will drop into the low 20s. Overnight wind chill values are
expected to drop into the low to mid teens. It is worth noting that
temperatures along the immediate lakeshore will be a degree or two
warmer due to influence from Lake Erie.

&&

.SHORT TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/...
On Friday night, dry air associated with a high pressure building
east will cut off any lingering lake effect snow showers across far
NWPA and allow for a brief period of widespread dry conditions
through Saturday morning. This high pressure will be very brief as
another potent low pressure system is expected to push northeast out
of the Southern Plains across the Central Great Lakes region.
Precipitation associated with this low will spread across the area
lake Saturday into Sunday, remaining primarily as all snow given the
sub-freezing temperatures through the vertical. General snowfall
totals area wide should be 1-2 inches. The exception of this is in
and around the Toledo Metro area which may see up to 4" of snowfall.
Exact totals are expected to vary over the next couple forecast
updates, but worth noting accumulating snow is likely.

On Sunday, warming temperatures should allow for a transition from
snow to rain without any issue, however some models continue to
suggest that there is a very small chance of isolated pockets of
freezing rain or sleet to mix in early to mid Sunday morning. Will
continue to monitor this potential, but if it were to occur the area
most likely impacted would be across the Mahoning Valley. Showers on
Sunday will gradually end from west to east as the trough axis
pushes east. Some lingering lake effect snow showers are possible
Sunday evening into the overnight hours across the snowbelt, but
accumulations are expected to remain 1-3 inches.

Temperatures on Saturday will remain cold in the low to mid 50s
before warming a tad on Sunday back into the mid 30s to low 40s.
Overnight lows will remain in the upper teens to low 20s through the
period.

&&

.LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
An active weather pattern will persist through the long term period
as a weak upper level trough moves a low pressure system from the
lower Mississippi Valley towards the Mid-Atlantic Coast before it
becomes a coastal low Monday into Tuesday. This should have limited
impacts to the area given the positioning north of the center.
However, models continue to suggest a broad area of isentropic lift
which will keep a chance of snow showers across the area through
Tuesday. By Tuesday night, the aforementioned low will approach
water off of the coast of New England, resulting in a surface trough
developing and the possible return of lake effect snow showers to
portions of the snowbelt. Models diverge quite a bit on timing and
location of this low so confidence is low in any snowfall
accumulation or timing forecast. Winter temperatures will linger
with highs expected in the low to mid 30s and overnight lows falling
into the low to mid 20s.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z Thursday THROUGH Monday/...
A band of heavy lake effect snow is located along the lakeshore
from east of Cleveland, OH to Erie, PA at 7 AM. Visibilities
within this band are a half mile or less and will impact ERI
through 13Z before starting to shift slightly farther inland.
ERI will continue to be impacted at times through the morning
with snow increasing again after 02Z tonight. The snow is
expected to slowly push inland with time today and scattered
snow showers will expand to CLE and YNG. Timing of snow showers
is difficult given the lake effect nature. Deeper moisture does
expand inland between 18-22Z and expected to have an expansion
of scattered snow showers this evening. These will be light at
MFD/CAK but can not rule out occasional IFR visibilites in snow
at CLE/YNG/ERI.

Gusty winds will continue at all terminals today. Most locations
will have southwest to westerly winds around 15 knots gusting to
25 knots. Winds may be stronger at CLE/ERI where flow off Lake
Erie could result in winds gusting to 35 knots.

Outlook...Non-VFR ceilings will continue through Friday.
Another system will enter the Great Lakes region Saturday night
into Sunday, bringing potential for more non-VFR and strong
winds.

&&

.MARINE...
Southwesterly gales on Lake Erie shift to westerly today. Winds will
settle into 30-35 knot range on the western basin with winds to 40
knot gales still on the eastern two thirds of the lake. Waves will
peak at 12-16 feet on the east end of the lake this morning. The
Gale Warning west of the Lake Erie Islands goes until 4 AM Friday
but there is some potential that we may be able to end it a little
sooner if winds drop below criteria before that time. The
warning continues on the Central and eastern portions of Lake
Erie until 10 AM Friday. Small Craft Advisories will be needed
following the Gale until late Friday night on the eastern half
of the lake.

Due to the continued strong southwest to westerly winds, a Low Water
Advisory remains in effect on the western basin of Lake Erie through
4 AM Friday. The lowest expected water levels occurred Wednesday
evening. Early Thursday morning the water level was nearly two feet
below low water datum. Water levels are generally expected to range
from 1 to 2 feet below low water datum through this evening,
although may approach the critical mark at times.

High pressure with good marine conditions will be over Lake Erie on
Saturday for a brief window. Southerly winds ramp up to 30 knots
Saturday night as low pressure tracks from the southern Plain into
the Central Great Lakes. Winds veer to westerly Sunday and
northwesterly Sunday night and additional Small Craft Advisories are
likely Saturday night through Sunday night.

&&

.CLE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OH...Wind Advisory until 1 AM EST Friday for OHZ010>012-089.
     Lake Effect Snow Warning until 7 PM EST Friday for OHZ011>014-
     089.
     Winter Weather Advisory from 1 PM this afternoon to 7 PM EST
     Friday for OHZ021>023.
PA...Wind Advisory until 1 AM EST Friday for PAZ001.
     Lake Effect Snow Warning until 1 AM EST Saturday for
     PAZ001>003.
MARINE...Gale Warning until 4 AM EST Friday for LEZ142>144-162>164.
     Low Water Advisory until 4 AM EST Friday for LEZ142>144-
     162>164.
     Gale Warning until 10 AM EST Friday for LEZ145>149-165>169.

&&

$$

SYNOPSIS...04
NEAR TERM...04
SHORT TERM...04
LONG TERM...04
AVIATION...10
MARINE...10