5 Inches Of Snow Possible On Cleveland's East Side Through Friday

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH — East side Cleveland suburbs, like Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights and Beachwood, could be getting a lot of snow this week. The National Weather Service (NWS) is predicting that up to 5 inches of snow could fall from Wednesday night through Friday.

Up to 3 inches could fall on Thursday alone. The majority of snowstorms are expected after 11 a.m. that day, with temperatures peaking at 31 degrees. The chance of precipitation is 50 percent, but if Northeast Ohio loses that coin flip...it could mean a lot of snow.

The snow could continue through Thursday night, with snow showers possible until about 1 a.m. on Friday morning. Another inch is possible throughout the evening Thursday. However, the snow my taper off by Friday night.

The end of the week, particularly Friday, is predicted to be sunny and cold. There is a chance of snow in the evening, but the NWS is saying the chance of precipitation is only 20 percent.

Tips for Driving This Week

Since things are likely to get at least a little hazardous on roadways, Patch has collected a series of driving tips from the Ohio Department of Transportation. Some may seem like commonsense, but they should serve as a good reminder that not everyone handles snowy roads like you.

• Snow and acceleration make it harder to brake. Going faster increases the amount of time it takes to stop your car.
• Go slow when accelerating on snow and ice.
• Never slam on the brakes. Press the pedal firmly if you have anti-lock brakes. If you don't have anti-lock, gently pump the pedal. Always give yourself room to stop.
• Don't use cruise control on snowy or icy roads.
• Don't just pay attention to the car directly in front of you. Try to aware of what's happening two or three cars down the line. It may give you an extra second to react safely.
• Be patient near snowplows. They are going to drive below the posted speed limit, that's it.
• Don't tailgate or try to pass a snowplow.
• Drive extra slow during the first serious snows of the year. Drivers forget how to handle themselves in winter conditions.
• Be particularly cautious when approaching exit ramps, intersections and turns.

More tips on driving safely can be found on the ODOT website.

Photo from Shutterstock