CLEVELAND, Ohio – Winter Storm Fern arrived in Cleveland shortly after midnight Saturday, pretty much on cue, and covered Northeast Ohio Sunday in a growing blanket of snow.

The National Weather Service upped its regional snowfall prediction across northern Ohio to 10-15 inches after midnight Saturday as the weather system started tracking a little more north.

It later lowered estimates, with the Cleveland area expected to get closer to 10 inches than the roughly 13 predicted for in and around the city.

Cuyahoga County called a Level 2 snow emergency, and warned people to stay off the roads. Most county buildings, including courts, will be closed to the public on Monday.

Cleveland Hopkins International Airport reported 4.6 inches at 1 p.m. Sunday, while accumulations elsewhere in Cuyahoga likely ranged between 4 and 7 inches, according to NWS meteorologist Jim Sullivan.

Another 4 to 7 inches is likely before the snow was to taper off Sunday night. Some lake effect is expected Monday.

It was a hefty amount of snow for the region to contend with, although it had plenty of warning – as did the country.

Unlike ice in the South, it was all snow in Cleveland.

A slew of events were canceled. The Cleveland Clinic closed some urgent care centers, and Giant Eagle closed its stores early. The Cleveland Museum of Art and Cleveland Museum of Natural History closed. Even the ice rink in Rocky River closed.

Schools across the area also canceled for Monday, as did Summit County courts, some churches and libraries.

Jury selection in the bribery case of former FirstEnergy CEO Chuck Jones and top lobbyist Michael Dowling will start Tuesday instead of Monday.

A die-hard crowd of powder hounds made it to Boston Mills ski resort for the good snow. And some families screamed with glee on sledding hills.

But most Northeast Ohioans followed the directions of Gov. Mike DeWine to stay home. They hunkered down inside to enjoy the calm that comes with a soft blanketing of sound-muffling snow, albeit punctuated by the rumble of plow trucks and the growl of snow throwers shunting waves of white powder.

Bring on the board games, hot chocolate and blankets. And for sports fans, there’s two NFL playoff games to watch to see who will play in the Super Bowl.

The storm hit as many Northeast Ohio communities faced salt shortages leading up to the storm as the early winter had eaten into their supplies. That meant some roads normally treated would not be, officials said.

Cleveland announced Friday that the Ohio Department of Transportation had provided it with a shipment of salt.

While the snow was expected to taper off Sunday evening, frigid air is being forecast behind it, according to the National Weather Service. While Monday could bring an inch or two of lake-effect snow, the bigger story is the cold.

High temperatures in Cleveland Monday will be about 16-17 degrees, but then dropping overnight to below zero, and with windchills at about minus 20.

That means the snow will stick around all week long. And who knows how many more canceled school days are on tap.

• Hamilton County is under a level 2 snow emergency due to heavy snowfall, with hazardous road conditions reported.
• A winter storm warning is in effect until noon Monday, with total storm accumulations of 9 to 13 inches possible.
• Several counties in Ohio and Northern Kentucky have declared snow emergencies, urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel.
• The National Weather Service forecasts heavy snow to continue Sunday, with frigid temperatures and low wind chills expected throughout the week.

Hamilton and Butler counties in Ohio and Boone County in Northern Kentucky are under a level 2 snow emergency as heavy snow fell over the region overnight into Sunday morning.

Road conditions are considered hazardous and only those who find it necessary to drive should be out, according to the sheriff’s office.

The region remains under a winter storm warning until noon Monday with more heavy snow expected to fall during the day Sunday, Jan. 25. Ice will also be mixed in for some parts of the region.

Early snowfall totals posted on the National Weather Service website shows accumulations of 5.9 inches in Lockland and 3.8 inches in Forest Park before 5 a.m.

New snow accumulations of 5 to 9 inches are possible Sunday during the day and about another inch overnight into Monday, according to the Wilmington office of the weather service. Total storm accumulations of 9 to 13 inches are possible from the weekend storm that is underway.

Snow emergency level in Ohio and Kentucky

Hamilton, Butler and Boone counties are under a level 2 snow emergency. Clermont County is under a level 1. Kenton and Campbell counties in Northern Kentucky have each declared a level 1 snow emergency, all of which took effect at noon Saturday, Jan. 24.

Under a level 2, only drivers who consider it necessary to travel should be on the roads. Under level 1, no roads are closed but unnecessary travel is discouraged.

In Indiana, Dearborn County is under a “yellow” travel advisory, signifying that routine travel or activities may be restricted in areas because of a hazardous situation, and individuals should use caution or avoid those areas.

How much snow do we have?

Preliminary snowfall totals posted before daybreak Sunday:

• Lockland: 5.8 inches.
• Forest Park: 3.8 inches.
• Mason: 2 inches.
• Wilmington: 3 inches.
• Dillsboro, Indiana: 5 inches.
• Moraine, near Dayton, Ohio: 6.5 inches.
• Columbus: 3.5 inches.

How much more snow is coming

Heavy snow is likely during the day Sunday and sleet and freezing rain is possible in Northern Kentucky. Snowfall is expected to lighten after 5 p.m., coming to an end overnight.

Total snow accumulation of just under 13 inches is likely for Cincinnati, according to the weather service.

Cincinnati weather forecast

Sunday: Snow. The snow could be heavy at times. High near 23. North wind 6 to 9 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 5 to 9 inches possible.

Sunday night: A chance of snow, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 6. Wind chill values as low as minus 1. North wind 6 to 8 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 14. Wind chill values as low as minus 4. West wind 6 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

Monday night: Mostly clear, with a low around minus 4. Southwest wind 5 to 7 mph.

Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 24.

Tuesday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around minus 6.

Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 16.

Wednesday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around minus 4.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 16.

Thursday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 0.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 20.

Friday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 2.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 22.

Source: National Weather Service in Wilmington

Gov. Mike DeWine declared a state of emergency, anticipating damaging and dangerous winter storm conditions.

Parts of Ohio are could get a foot of snow, along with dangerously cold temperatures.

“I continue to encourage everyone to stay home this weekend unless it’s absolutely necessary to be out,” DeWine stated. “We’re expecting the roads to be treacherous in some places, and if you crash, first responders may not be able to get to you quickly.”

The state of emergency proclamation documents DeWine directive on Friday that state agencies, including the Ohio Emergency Management Agency, Ohio State Highway Patrol, and Ohio Department of Transportation, provide additional resources and support to local communities as needed.

The proclamation also directs Ohio Department of Administrative Services to suspend normal purchasing rules, so that agencies can have the supplies they need.