When will snow start in Northeast Ohio? Latest timing and snow map

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Snow will impact Northeast Ohio this weekend, and the timing for when it begins will vary depending on your location.

Forecasters say lake-effect snow will spread across the snowbelt of Northeast Ohio through early Saturday afternoon, while a clipper system from the southwest will bring a broader area of accumulating snow to inland areas later Saturday.

As a result, a lake-effect snow warning has been issued for Cuyahoga, Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula counties, while a winter weather advisory has been issued for the rest of Northeast Ohio.

Once snow begins accumulating, travel conditions are expected to deteriorate quickly, with slick roads and reduced visibility likely. Motorists can check ohgo.com for the latest road conditions.

The latest snow timing across Northeast Ohio

The first impacts will be felt in the primary snowbelt, where lake-effect snow will develop by early afternoon. Northeastern Cuyahoga County and much of Ashtabula, Lake and Geauga counties could see snow begin before 2 p.m. Saturday, according to the National Weather Service in Cleveland.

Between 2 and 5 p.m. Saturday, accumulating snow will approach from the southwest and spread into areas outside the snowbelt. By Saturday afternoon and evening, snow is expected to become more widespread across much of the region.

Latest snow map: What it shows

The newest snow map from the weather service shows little change to expected snowfall, with higher amounts in the snowbelt and lower totals farther inland.

Most communities outside the primary snowbelt are expected to see 1 to 4 inches of snow from Saturday’s system, while 5 to 10 inches remain possible in the snowbelt through Sunday night. The highest totals are most likely east of Cleveland, where lake-effect snow is forecast to persist the longest.

Snow continues into Sunday

Snow will not end once Saturday’s system moves through. As bone-chilling Arctic air moves across Lake Erie, conditions will remain favorable for lake-effect snow to continue into Sunday.

The primary snowbelt is expected to bear the brunt of the impact, where persistent or occasionally shifting snow bands could continue producing accumulating snow. Areas outside the snowbelt could also see additional accumulations Sunday as lake-effect bands push inland at times.

Forecasters warn snowfall rates could reach 1 to 2 inches per hour within stronger bands, leading to rapidly changing conditions.