OH Weather: Widespread Snow, Powerful Winds Coming Friday

CLEVELAND — A late-winter storm will dump snow and freezing rain on parts of Ohio on Friday and early Saturday, forecasters warn.

Friday afternoon will see widespread rain across northern Ohio. At approximately 3 p.m., temperatures will drop and precipitation will turn to snow, the National Weather Service said.

Northwest Ohioans will get a lighter snowfall, with only 1 to 2 inches expected in counties west of Cuyahoga County. From Cleveland eastward, communities should expect more significant accumulations.

Lake, Ashtabula and Erie counties could get between 4 and 8 inches of snow through Saturday morning, forecasts said. Cuyahoga County cities will get between 1 and 4 inches overnight, the National Weather Service added.

Significant snowfall could extend as far south as Canton and Youngstown, forecasts said.

"Rain is expected to change to snow this afternoon and evening. Any accumulation of snow or freezing water on roadways will result in hazardous travel. The highest snow accumulations are expected along and east of I-77," the National Weather Service said in a hazardous weather outlook.

In addition to significant snowfall, wind gusts could hit 35 mph in some areas, reducing visibility and making travel difficult.

Cities along Lake Erie's coast could see additional snow through Saturday morning, the National Weather Service said. Lake effect accumulations should be limited to 2 inches or less. Temperatures will also plummet into the teens on Friday night. Saturday's projected high is 24 degrees.

Here's a day-by-day forecast for the upcoming weekend:

Friday — Precipitation should start at approximately 2 p.m. Between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m., a wintry mix of snow and rain could develop and by 3 p.m. snow should begin accumulating in many Ohio communities, particularly cities east of Cleveland. Snowfall totals will vary based on where you live.

Saturday — Lake effect snowfall could continue in some counties and in parts of the snow belt. An additional 2 inches could fall in the morning before conditions dry out. Expect an unusually cold Saturday, with a high in the mid-20s and a low in the teens.

Sunday — The weather will begin to improve at the end of the weekend. There's a slight chance of snow in the morning, though little accumulation is expected. Temperatures will climb back into the 40s during the day and the overnight low will be in the mid-30s.