'Extremely Difficult' To Travel During Winter Storm, ODOT Warns

OHIO — Travel during the possible winter storm this week will be "extremely difficult," the Ohio Department of Transportation warned.

Most of northern Ohio is under either a winter storm watch or warning, according to the National Weather Service. Counties bordering Lake Erie, from Toledo to Mentor, are expecting 9 to 14 inches of snow between Wednesday night and Friday morning, while counties further south could get between 5 and 10 inches, according to forecasts.

Drivers forced to travel during the storm should begin planning their trips now, the Ohio Department of Transportation said on Twitter.

"Even with our crews out around the clock, travel during the storm will be extremely difficult," the department said.

• Read more: Winter Storm Upgraded: 9-14 Inches Now Expected In Parts of Ohio

Drivers should move slowly on any roadway and provide as much space for snowplows as possible, the department added. Morning and afternoon commutes could be impacted by the storm on Thursday.

In northeast Ohio, ODOT said, there is more than 166,000 tons of salt availability and crews have the capacity to make salt brine to combat the storm's effects.

"Mechanics have been tuning up the snowplows and our drivers are ready to begin 12-hour shifts. If we get the expected amount of snowfall, it will be very difficult for our crews to keep up. Don't expect perfect road conditions. Our snowplows will be plowing and treating roads and doing their best for those that must travel," the department said in a news release.

Precipitation will begin as rain on Wednesday but could turn to snow or freezing rain on Wednesday night or Thursday morning. With winds expected to hit 11 to 15 mph, visibility will also be a concern during the storm.