Winter Storm Elliott arrives in Northeast Ohio: Updates on flight cancellations and road conditions

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Winter Storm Elliott rearranged Northeast Ohio’s Christmas plans, clogging roads and airports, stopping any last-minute procuring excursions and barricading us in our houses.

And it appears just like the freezing temperatures will stick with us for at the least just a few extra days, even when the snow strikes on.

The primary main storm of the season hit early Friday morning, bringing snow, excessive winds and below-freezing temperatures. The gusts hit 60 mph in some components of Northeast Ohio, knocking out energy to hundreds and sending the wind chill to 30 under. Forecasters even referred to as for a blizzard warning for Cuyahoga, Lake and Ashtabula counties.

By Friday afternoon, 3.4 inches of snow touched down at Cleveland Hopkins Worldwide Airport, mentioned Nationwide Climate Service meteorologist Brian Mitchell. However the quantity of snow hasn’t been essentially the most urgent subject — most cities throughout Northeast Ohio have reported 2 to 4 inches, Mitchell mentioned.

It’s extra of the blowing and drifting snow, picked up by the wind, that decreased visibility on the ice-covered roads. Mitchell mentioned visibility was a few quarter mile as of 1 p.m. on the airport. Town’s downtown skyline is seen from the Lakewood’s Gold Coast neighborhood close to the Cleveland border. However by 8 a.m. Friday, the skyline couldn’t be seen.

“We did have some snowfall, so when you get that on the bottom, and positively these winds that we’re getting simply kick up [the snow],” Mitchell mentioned.

Snow is predicted to fall on and off by means of Saturday night time, Mitchell mentioned.

“Anyplace going east it’s going to be worse, however even when I’m trying to factors west, it’s nonetheless snow showers round. Perhaps accumulating-wise not an excessive amount of,” Mitchell mentioned. “I’m simply beginning to look southwest of Cleveland somewhat bit. Nonetheless just a few snow showers [Saturday] however once more not a lot precise accumulation.”

For Christmas Day, winds ought to lower however gusts might nonetheless attain 30 mph. Wind chills might dip to about 10 under zero.

“Definitely east of Cleveland we’re nonetheless searching for some lake impact snow (for Sunday),” Mitchell mentioned. “Primarily early, however that would be the worst space for further falling snow, can be east of Cleveland up the lakeshore.”

Energy outages

Throughout Northeast Ohio’s seven-county area — Cuyahoga, Geauga, Medina, Summit, Portage, Lorain and Lake — greater than 21,000 energy outages have occurred by means of Friday afternoon, in line with FirstEnergy Corp. Cuyahoga, Lorain, Portage and Summit counties account for greater than 20,000 of the outages.

Flight cancellations

Scores of flights had been canceled at Cleveland Hopkins Worldwide Airport. Planes had been grounded not simply due to climate right here but additionally from throughout the nation. As vacationers put together, airport spokesman John Goersmeyer extremely recommends anybody flying to first verify with their airline to see whether or not their flights have been canceled.

Vacationers may verify the airport’s web site to view flight standing at https://www.clevelandairport.com/flight-information/flight-status.

Street situations

Roads throughout the area had been ice and snow coated. On Friday, Cleveland police urged drivers to remain off Interstate 90 west into Cleveland. The freeway grew to become icy after winds whipped water onto it from the lake, freezing the westbound aspect between Eddy Street and East fifty fifth road, the discharge says.

Ohio Division of Transportation spokesman Matt Bruning urged endurance.

“Should you anticipate to exit the door immediately and drive the pace restrict and that hour journey that you simply usually take goes to take an hour immediately, you’re going to be actually disenchanted if you get out on the roadway,” Bruning mentioned.

“As a result of that’s simply not going to occur. It’s not possible; it’s not doable. It’s going to take you longer; you’re going to must decelerate. You’re going to see snow-covered roadways, particularly Northeast Ohio. And that’s most likely going to proceed for the following 24 hours.”

Wind chill temperatures throughout the area Friday

Akron: -29 levels, as of 11:34 a.m.

Akron-Canton Regional Airport: -31 levels, as of 10:33 a.m.

Avon: -32 levels, as of 10:56 a.m.

Brook Park: -28 levels, as of 10:37 a.m.

Brunswick: -33 levels, as of 11:16 a.m.

Chardon: -33 levels, as of 11:25 a.m.

Cleveland: -30 levels, as of 10:51 a.m.

Copley: -31 levels, as of 11:10 a.m.

Cuyahoga Falls: -26 levels, as of 9:30 a.m.

Elyria: -25 levels, as of 10:47 a.m.

Lorain: -34 levels, as of 11:15 a.m.

Medina: -25 levels, as of 10:45 a.m.

Mentor: -29 levels, as of 11:15 a.m.

Parma: -31 levels, as of 11:30 a.m.

Reminderville: -26 levels, as of 10:45 a.m.

Rootstown: -28 levels, as of 10:07 a.m.

Shaker Heights: -30 levels, as of 10:40 a.m.

Solon: -28 levels, as of 10:11 a.m.

Tallmadge: -27 levels, as of 11:30 a.m.

Twinsburg: -25 levels, as of 10:45 a.m.

College Heights: -30 levels, as of 11:15 a.m.

Wickliffe: -26 levels, as of 11:19 a.m.

Willoughby: -27 levels, as of 11:15 a.m.