Full Notification

* WHAT...Heavy lake effect snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 4 and 13 inches. Two areas of highest accumulations are expected to be in northern Geauga County and in Lake County south of I-90 and in far northeast Ashtabula County. Winds gusting as high as 50 mph.

* WHERE...Ashtabula Inland, Ashtabula Lakeshore, Cuyahoga, Geauga, and Lake Counties.

* WHEN...From 1 AM Thursday to 7 PM EST Friday.

* IMPACTS...Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous. Visibilities may drop below 1/4 mile due to falling and blowing snow. The strong winds may down power lines and could cause sporadic power outages. Whiteout conditions are expected and will make travel difficult to impossible. The hazardous conditions will impact busy Thanksgiving holiday travel.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Heavy lake effect snow will push inland Thursday morning. Intensity of snowbands is expected to increase throughout the day when snow may quickly accumulate on untreated surfaces. Snowfall rates may exceed 1 inch per hour at times on Thursday.

* AFFECTED AREAS: CUYAHOGA ... LAKE ... GEAUGA ... ASHTABULA INLAND ... ASHTABULA LAKESHORE

Instructions:

If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. The Ohio Department of Transportation and Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission strongly encourage motorists to heed all travel restrictions and delay unnecessary travel. Visit www.ohgo.com for the latest travel, roadway, and traffic conditions. Persons should delay all travel if possible. If travel is absolutely necessary, drive with extreme caution and be prepared for sudden changes in visibility. Leave plenty of room between you and the motorist ahead of you, and allow extra time to reach your destination. Avoid sudden braking or acceleration, and be especially cautious on hills or when making turns. Make sure your car is winterized and in good working order. During lake effect snow, the weather can vary from bands of locally heavy snow to dry weather just a few miles away. Visibilities can also vary greatly. Be prepared for rapid changes in weather, visibility, and road conditions.