Rain Friday gives way to a wetter, windier finish to the weekend in Northeast Ohio

CLEVELAND, Ohio — After a quiet Christmas Day, Northeast Ohio will see rain Friday before a stronger system late in the weekend brings soggy conditions, gusty winds and sharply colder air.

Rain is expected Friday as a weak low-pressure system tracks through the northern Ohio Valley. Temperatures rising into the upper 30s and lower 40s will keep precipitation in the form of rain, with any early-morning wintry mix already past.

The rain will taper off from west to east later in the afternoon and early evening as drier air moves in behind the departing low.

Dry break Saturday

High pressure will briefly build in Saturday, bringing a quieter stretch of weather for the day.

Skies will feature a mix of clouds and occasional breaks of sun, with highs reaching the mid to upper 30s near Lake Erie and climbing into the low 40s further south.

Stronger system Sunday into Monday

Sunday marks the start of a more impactful stretch of weather as a stronger storm system moves into Northeast Ohio.

Rain will move into the region during the day Sunday, becoming widespread and occasionally heavy as winds increase. Temperatures are expected to surge into the 50s by late Sunday, creating a mild but unsettled day.

Conditions may become more intense Sunday night as a stronger band of rain moves through, with gusty winds and a low chance of a rumble of thunder. Temperatures are expected to remain unseasonably warm overnight, holding in the 50s through early Monday.

That warmth will be short-lived, though. A strong cold front will sweep through early Monday, sending temperatures tumbling throughout the day as winds turn sharply to the northwest. Rain will transition to snow as colder air pours into the region.

By Monday night, accumulating snow is expected, especially in the Northeast Ohio snowbelt, where lake-effect and blowing snow may create hazardous travel conditions. Temperatures are forecast to fall into the upper teens to lower 20s, with wind chills dipping even lower.

The cold and wintry pattern is expected to linger through the start of the new year, with below-average temperatures and periodic lake-effect snow chances continuing through midweek.