Cleveland, OH

Watches, warnings and advisories… oh my!

Published

3 months ago

November 21, 2025

Watches, warnings and advisories… oh my!

Winter time is upon us soon, and that means a whole assortment of weather in Northeast Ohio. We have snow, sleet, rain, freezing rain, blizzards, snow squalls, and, of course, the infamous lake-effect snow.

There are many warnings, watches and advisories used to convey what folks need to prepare for. Do you know what a “Winter Weather Advisory” and “Winter Storm Warning” Mean?

Well, let me be your guide!

First off, all of these warnings, watches and advisories originate from the National Weather Service, specifically, the office in Cleveland for most of the News 5 Viewing Area. Two counties are under the Pittsburgh National Weather Service office: Tuscarawas and Carroll.

The most common alert across Northeast Ohio is the Winter Weather Advisory. This is kind of a catch-all for winter weather in a sense. These are issued if possible snow accumulations of 4 inches, and or any freezing rain accumulations less than ¼ inch for any county.

Every county can be under most winter warnings, advisories and watches. But there are only certain counties that can be under Lake-Effect Snow Warnings. Primarily, they are Ashtabula, Lake, Geauga, and Cuyahoga, the areas where most lake-effect snow occurs. It can be issued for any of our northernmost areas.

The criteria to be put under a Lake-Effect Snow Warning are if lake-effect snow accumulations of 6 inches or greater are anticipated.

Now, Winter Storm Watches and Warnings, too, are kind of a catch-all for winter weather, just in a more impactful way. A winter storm watch is issued for potential for a blizzard, heavy snowfall, or ice storm within the next 18 to 48 hours, issued when there is a 50% confidence or greater of at least 6 inches of snow and/or a ¼ inch of ice.

A Winter Storm Warning is issued for snow accumulations of 6 inches or greater; Freezing rain accumulations of ¼ inch or greater are imminent.

Now you noticed the word “blizzard” in the winter storm watch and warning. Well, it too has criteria, and it is probably more specific than you realize.

To have an actual blizzard, according to the National Weather Service definition, you need sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or greater AND falling/blowing snow reducing visibility to less than ¼ mile for at least three hours. That’s right, you don’t need falling snow to have a blizzard. A blizzard is a visibility concern, rather than a snowfall or accumulation concern.

People will only see blizzard warnings once in a great while here in Northeast Ohio, but we will see a “Snow Squall Warning” several times a winter, which gets confused for a blizzard.

You need a short-duration (less than 1 hour), polygon-based warning (like severe thunderstorms and tornadoes) that is issued when strong snow squalls and flash freezing will cause dangerous and life-threatening conditions, especially for roadways. Usually issued when ground/road temperatures are sub-freezing and visibility is less than ¼ mile.

An Ice Storm Warning is issued when freezing rain accumulations of ¼ inch or greater result in significant, widespread power outages, tree damage and dangerous travel. A warning that is not that common across Northeast Ohio, but can happen if conditions are right.

Now we’ve talked about winter precipitation problems. But cold air can be a problem for folks. Now, in years past, we had two ways to describe cold: the actual air temperature and the wind chill. In the last year, the National Weather Service has combined both into one advisory, watch and warning.

So, an Extreme Cold Watch is issued when a wind chill or temperature of -25ºF or colder is anticipated within the next 18 to 48 hours, and an Extreme Cold Warning is issued when -25°F or lower wind chills or temperatures are imminent. A Cold Advisory is issued when temperatures or wind chill of -15ºF to -24ºF are imminent.

So there you have it, all of the winter-season watches, warnings and advisories. Quite a list for sure, but keep in mind, Mother Nature is in charge, and does not abide by our lines on a map.

So you will need to stay weather-aware, and the Power of 5 Meteorologists will always keep you informed and ahead of the ever-changing weather this winter across Northeast Ohio.

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Cleveland, OH

Iran strikes spark debate among Northeast Ohio residents

Published

5 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Iran strikes spark debate among Northeast Ohio residents

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The Cleveland Liberation Center and nearly 100 other organizations rallied in Cleveland Sunday to protest the U.S. strikes on Iran, demonstrating significant grassroots opposition to the military action.

The recent U.S. military strikes on Iran and the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have ignited passionate discussions across the nation, and Northeast Ohio is no exception.

While state political leaders express support for President Donald Trump’s actions, local activists are raising urgent questions about the impact on American communities.

Dallas Eckman, a public school teacher and volunteer coordinator with the Cleveland Liberation Center, is taking a clear stance against the recent attacks.

“We need to step up as Americans and say violence is not going to be the way we solve out world’s problems,” Eckman said.

The frustration runs deeper for Eckman, who sees a disconnect between military spending and domestic priorities.

“It’s absurd that for me as a public-school teacher I am struggling to get funding for chrome books and books. I can wake up one morning and see we have spent millions and millions of dollars to bomb another country,” he explained.

Eckman questions whether these military actions actually benefit working people in Cleveland.

“Which does nothing for the working people here in Cleveland. It does nothing to make my schools safer. It does nothing to improve the road right outside the liberation center,” Eckman said.

Eckman’s concerns are shared by many in the region.

Despite local opposition, several Ohio’s political leaders are backing the Trump administration’s decision.

Senator Bernie Moreno released a statement expressing his support, stating, “President Trump sought for months to avoid conflict and negotiate with Iran to prevent them from rebuilding their nuclear program. I fully support his decision.”

Secretary of State John Husted also voiced his approval.

“For 47 years, the Iranian regime had ample opportunity to be a productive member of the global community — instead, it chose to export death, terrorism, extremism, and instability against America and our allies,” Husted said.

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Cleveland, OH

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Brooklyn Nets prediction, pick for Sunday 3/1/26

Published

17 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Brooklyn Nets prediction, pick for Sunday 3/1/26

Cooper Albers takes you through his preview, prediction and pick for Sunday’s NBA matchup between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Brooklyn Nets.

Eastern Conference rivals close their regular-season series on Sunday, as the Brooklyn Nets host the Cleveland Cavaliers at Barclays Center.

The Cavaliers (37–24, 4th East) have dropped back-to-back games without Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, albeit against far superior competition. They’ll aim for the three-game sweep of Brooklyn without Mitchell, while Harden remains questionable.

The Nets (15–44, 14th East) are mired in a brutal seven-game losing streak, including a 112–84 thumping in Cleveland on February 19.

Here’s a look at the Injury Report:

Cleveland Cavaliers

Out: Donovan Mitchell (Groin), Max Strus (Foot), Dean Wade (Ankle)
Questionable: James Harden (Thumb), Keon Ellis (Finger)

Brooklyn Nets

Out: Egor Demin (Heel), Drake Powell (G-League Assignment)
Questionable: Nic Claxton (Thumb)

Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET. Cleveland enters as a hefty 11.5-point road favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while Brooklyn sits as a +410 underdog. The game’s total is set at 222.5 points.

Cavaliers vs. Nets Preview

Cleveland Cavaliers Preview

The Cavaliers went all in at the NBA trade deadline, sending Darius Garland to Los Angeles for superstar guard James Harden. The gamble seemingly paid off, as the former MVP has fit seamlessly into the lineup alongside Donovan Mitchell. Cleveland went 6–1 after Harden’s debut, its lone loss coming against the defending champs in Oklahoma City.

But the momentum quickly stalled when both Harden and Mitchell hit the sidelines to nurse injuries. Cleveland has dropped back-to-back games in the star duo’s absence against Milwaukee and Detroit. And while Harden is listed as questionable for Sunday’s contest with a thumb fracture in his non-shooting hand, Mitchell remains out with a groin strain.

The Cavs are just 2–4 without Mitchell this season. If Harden stays out, they’ll likely keep relying on their accomplished frontcourt of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Cleveland also features a solid veteran backup point guard in Dennis Schroder, along with a reliable sharpshooter in Sam Merrill.

Brooklyn Nets Preview

Brooklyn has won five games in 2026. Five.

Were any of these wins particularly impressive? Hardly. They beat a Nikola Jokic-less Denver Nuggets, the spiraling Chicago Bulls twice, the lowly Washington Wizards, and the tanking Utah Jazz.

The Nets rank dead last on both ends of the floor since January 1, disappointing even by their standards. They’ve lost seven games in a row, punctuated by a 37-point walloping in Boston on Friday night.

Michael Porter Jr. will continue trying to carry an increasingly strained offense without rookie standout Egor Demin. Brooklyn will also lean on its burgeoning frontcourt, comprising Noah Clowney and Nic Claxton (questionable).

Cavaliers vs. Nets Pick, Best Bet

Keep an eye on the injury report for this one. If Harden remains sidelined, Cleveland may lack the offensive firepower to pull away. But if the former MVP suits up, expect him and the Cavs to carve up Brooklyn’s porous defense and comfortably cover the 11.5-point spread.