Snowfall Totals: Storm Summary for 1/27 through 1/28/09

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE 24 HOUR STORM TOTALS

...ASHTABULA COUNTY...
   PIERPONT 2SE          12.0   545 PM  1/28  
   WINDSOR               12.0   647 PM  1/28  
   ASHTABULA             11.5   615 PM  1/28  
   CONNEAUT I-90         10.0   639 PM  1/28  
   ASHTABULA 1SW          9.7   754 PM  1/28  

...CRAWFORD COUNTY...
   GALION                12.0   558 PM  1/28  
   NEW WASHINGTON 5S      9.5   519 PM  1/28  
   BUCYRUS                9.0   911 PM  1/28  
   BUCYRUS                8.5   628 PM  1/28  

...CUYAHOGA COUNTY...
   SHAKER HTS            12.0   450 PM  1/28  
   GARFIELD HTS          11.5   721 PM  1/28  
   CLEVELAND-EDGEWATER   10.8   821 PM  1/28  
   BROADVIEW HTS         10.5   610 PM  1/28  
   NORTH ROYALTON        10.2   614 PM  1/28  
   SOLON                 10.2   645 PM  1/28  
   CLE AIRPORT            9.5   651 PM  1/28  
   CLEVELAND              9.0   402 PM  1/28  
   EUCLID                 8.5   753 PM  1/28  

...ERIE COUNTY...
   VERMILION              9.7   441 PM  1/28  
   SANDUSKY - WEST SIDE   6.7   528 PM  1/28  
   SANDUSKY               6.0   612 PM  1/28  

...GEAUGA COUNTY...
   CHARDON               13.0   604 PM  1/28  
   HAMBDEN TWP.          12.5   708 PM  1/28  
   MONTVILLE             11.8   700 PM  1/28  
   BURTON                11.0   747 PM  1/28  
   CHARDON               11.0   535 PM  1/28  
   RUSSELL TWP           11.0   422 PM  1/28  
   BAINBRIDGE 2S         10.5   656 PM  1/28  
   THOMPSON 5SW          10.5   637 PM  1/28  
   CLARIDON TWP          10.3   752 PM  1/28  
   BAINBRIDGE            10.0   622 PM  1/28  
   MIDDLEFIELD 3SE        9.6   728 PM  1/28  

...HOLMES COUNTY...
   FRYBURG                6.0   636 PM  1/28  

...HURON COUNTY...
   NEW LONDON 3NW         9.2   506 PM  1/28  
   NORWALK                8.6   721 PM  1/28  
   NORWALK                7.0   601 PM  1/28  

...LAKE COUNTY...
   PERRY TOWNSHIP        12.0   658 PM  1/28  
   EASTLAKE              11.2   512 PM  1/28  
   MADISON  5 S          11.0   759 PM  1/28  
   CONCORD TWP.          10.0   825 PM  1/28  
   LEROY                 10.0   603 PM  1/28  
   MENTOR                 9.5   656 PM  1/28  
   WILLOUGHBY             9.5   530 PM  1/28  
   MENTOR                 9.4   921 PM  1/28  
   MENTOR                 9.3   803 PM  1/28  
   MADISON                9.0   851 PM  1/28  
   KIRTLAND               8.5   910 PM  1/28  
   WILLOUGHBY             8.2   741 PM  1/28  
   SOUTH MADISON          8.0   635 PM  1/28  
   MADISON-ON-THE-LAKE    7.0   529 PM  1/28  

...LORAIN COUNTY...
   WELLINGTON             9.0   733 PM  1/28  
   N RIDGEVILLE           8.9   632 PM  1/28  
   OBERLIN                8.8   910 PM  1/28  
   SHEFFIELD LAKE         7.6   812 PM  1/28  

...LUCAS COUNTY...
   TOLEDO AIRPORT        10.8   651 PM  1/28  
   MAUMEE                 7.5   606 PM  1/28  
   TOLEDO                 7.0   439 PM  1/28  
   SYLVANIA TWP           6.3   413 PM  1/28  

...MAHONING COUNTY...
   BOARDMAN SE            8.0   531 PM  1/28  
   AUSTINTOWN             6.0   814 PM  1/28  
   SALEM 5NW              5.5   632 PM  1/28  

...MARION COUNTY...
   MARION                10.6   140 PM  1/28  

...MEDINA COUNTY...
   MEDINA                10.8   743 PM  1/28  
   BRUNSWICK              9.6   740 PM  1/28  
   HINCKLEY               9.3   812 PM  1/28  

...PORTAGE COUNTY...
   HIRAM                 11.0   808 PM  1/28  
   KENT                   8.3   512 PM  1/28  
   RAVENNA 1E             7.7   503 PM  1/28  

...RICHLAND COUNTY...
   MANSFLD ARPT          13.0   651 PM  1/28  
   LUCAS                 10.2   634 PM  1/28  
   ONTARIO               10.0   809 PM  1/28  

...SANDUSKY COUNTY...
   CLYDE                  8.0   732 PM  1/28  
   FREMONT                7.2   611 PM  1/28  

...STARK COUNTY...
   ALLIANCE               4.5   704 PM  1/28  

...SUMMIT COUNTY...
   BATH                  11.0   817 PM  1/28  
   TWINSBURG              9.5   641 PM  1/28  
   TALLMADGE              8.8   807 PM  1/28  
   CAK AIRPORT            8.6   651 PM  1/28  
   TALLMADGE 2NE          8.5   824 PM  1/28  
   GREEN                  6.7   511 PM  1/28  

...TRUMBULL COUNTY...
   CHAMPION              10.0   806 PM  1/28  
   NEWTON FALLS           9.5   602 PM  1/28  
   MESOPOTAMIA            9.0   327 PM  1/28  
   KINSMAN                8.0   649 PM  1/28  
   WARREN                 8.0   715 PM  1/28  
   WARREN                 7.8   657 PM  1/28  
   YNG AIRPORT            7.8   651 PM  1/28  

...WAYNE COUNTY...
   DOYLESTOWN             8.5   838 PM  1/28  
   WOOSTER 7N             8.5   549 PM  1/28  
   WOOSTER                8.0   524 PM  1/28  
   KIDRON 1N              5.8   912 PM  1/28  

...WYANDOT COUNTY...
   UPPER SANDUSKY        10.5   714 PM  1/28  

Weather Focus: All time monthly snow record within reach

By WKYC Reporter Dick Russ

CLEVELAND -- Move over Blizzard of 78, you're about to fall into second place in one category of weather records in Northeast Ohio.

The month of January 2009 is poised to set a record as the snowiest month ever in the history of Cleveland.

"Wow, we've had that much snow? It's really something!" laughed Marty Thompson, National Weather Service meteorologist at Hopkins Airport.

As of late afternoon on Wednesday, January 28, the National Weather Service had recorded an official 40.2 inches of snowfall. That is about two and a half inches from the all-time one month record set in January, 1978, when a record blizzard blanketed Northeast Ohio.

Thompson, who was in the early part of his forecasting career during the Blizzard of '78, says that storm still sets the standard for single winter weather events in Northeast Ohio.

He thinks some may remember January of 2009 for the snow that has accumulated over the month. "It's going to depend on your age," says Thompson, "what you experienced in your lifetime."

Liz Davis of Cleveland will put this month down in her personal history book. "I certainly will. This is one I will not forget," said Davis, bundled up, filling the gas tank of her car.

"My car had so much snow on it, and I'm telling you I looked like a snowman!"

Kevin Ennis will remember it for another reason. He makes a living plowing snow and says he can't remember a month like this, with decent snowfalls almost every day.

"This is going to go down in the record books, definitely," said Ennis, who admitted being too young to remember the Blizzard of '78 very well.

Thompson likened the impending one month record to getting "nickled and dimed" by snowfall. "Systems keep coming through and putting down snowfall and adding to the snow cover," he explained.

"I think sometimes it gets you by surprise and you're not really realizing it, and it's not hitting home."

The meteorologist who can recite significant local weather events by memory and experience, says he might choose setting a record in the way it's happening this January.

"I think the nickel and diming I could cope with a lot better now that I'm in my 50's," he admits. "I could deal with that a little better than all at once."

Viewer Photos: 1/28/09

For pictures submitted by Channel 3 viewers, click on one of the following photogalleries:

• Photos: Winter Storm Fun
• Viewer photos: Winter storm
• Photos: Winter storm smacks northeast Ohio
• Photos: Snow day at the Akron Zoo

UPLOAD YOUR OWN PHOTOS:

*To upload your own photos: CLICK HERE

News: Cleveland ready for winter storm

CLEVELAND -- As with typical Cleveland fashion on a January night, the ground is expected to be blanketed in white.

The city is making preparations to handle the impending winter storm. A winter storm warning has been issued by the National Weather Service through Wednesday night.

The city is its snow removal crews two hours before the storm is forecasted to begin.

According to the city, crews will consist of 27 snowplow drivers, six foremen and six heavy equipment operators until 11: p.m. At that time, staffing will increase to 60 snow plow drivers, 12 foremen and six to 12 heavy equipment operators until morning rush hour and beyond.

The city says tandem snow plowing will occur based on the conditions. Drivers will remain on the main and secondary streets until the snow subsides and roads are passable.

Then, crews will plow and salt on residential streets.

This plan will remain in effect until main thoroughfares and residential streets are clear.

News: City leaders sweating out winter with short salt supplies

LYNDHURST -- The roadways across the Cleveland area are mostly dry.

That is a big relief for leaders in cities all across Northeast Ohio on a high wire balancing act struggling to keep the roads clear while saving as much of that precious rock salt as they can.

"Whether you've got money or not, there is a shortage of the product," Lyndhurst Vice Mayor Pat Ward said. "If we extend beyond March with snow events or ice events, we're going to be in trouble."

It's been a tough winter already. Cleveland has piled up nearly four feet of snow this season -- 13 inches ahead of an average winter by this date.

Add to that a scarce salt supply and several cities across Northeast Ohio are stretching what salt they have.

Lyndhurst is making due with 3,000 tons of salt this year.

That's half of what road crews typically spread on the 50 miles of city streets during a winter.

This week, Lyndhurst City Council just adopted a new salting policy. Main roads will be plowed, but only salted at intersection as well as hills, curves, bridges and school zones unless conditions are really bad.

There will also be less salting between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m.

Lyndhurst residents have noticed a difference on the city streets. Yet they know the slippery slope city leaders are on sweating out the snow and ice that is sure to come.

"The roads have been covered in snow, even when there's been an inch of snow," Lyndhurst resident Liz Zaucha said. "I'm not criticizing Lyndhurst. I think they've done a really good job. The roads are icier and more slippery."

News: Ice dams leave homeowners angry

By WKYC Reporter Paul Thomas

LYNDHURST -- In the dead of winter, roofer Ken Romanini is busier than ever.

Romanini and his crews are working from sunrise to sunset even though there's six inches to a foot of snow on roofs across Northeast Ohio.

"We probably had 32 phone calls (Wednesday) for ice dams," said Romanini, owner of Ken's Parkhill Roofing Company. "It's starting to hit up again."

Two weeks of steady snowfall and only one day above 32 degrees in that same time span has created thousands of ice dams.

Romanini said if you have icicles hanging from your roof or gutter, you may have an ice dam.

An ice dam is a sheet of ice that builds at the edge of a roof and gutters and stops melting snow (water) from draining. With an ice dam, a growing pool of water backs up and can leak through the roof causing thousands of dollars worth of damage to ceilings, and walls.

"We hold our breath and pray for the rest," said a homeowner in Lyndhurst who wished to remain anonymous. Water damage from previous ice dams has damaged the woman's living room ceiling, closets, and basement walls and carpet. "We get out a lot of buckets and collect the water," she said.



Romanini looked up and down Brainard Road in Lyndhurst and shook his head. Many houses had icicles taller that three feet hanging from their gutters.

"They have two problems. The houses suffer from a lack of insulation and ventilation," Romanini said. "So what happens is that the heat from the home rises and filters right through the ceiling. And then the water (snow melt) runs down to the gutter and freezes."

To prevent water damage from ice dams a homeowner should first chip away icicles away from the roof. Then remove the snow from the roof. Local hardware stores carry roof rakes for just that purpose.

Finally, the ice dam at the edge of the roof needs to be opened so that the snow melt can drain. Romanini's crew uses pry bars and hammers to chisel away the ice.

Romanini said homeowners should expect a little damage to shingles while clearing ice dams.

Weather Focus: All time record low set January 19th, 1994

CLEVELAND -- Although last week saw the coldest temperatures of the season, the lows weren't the chilliest we've ever faced.

On January 19, 1994, Cleveland set its all time record low temperature of -20 degrees at 5:32 a.m.

This record low was set as the east coast was paralyzed by freezing temperatures and extremely dangerous wind chill levels.

We went back in the National Weather Service records since 1900 to find the coldest days Cleveland has ever seen:

THE TOP COLDEST DAYS

1/19/1994: -20

1/24/1963: -19

1/20/1985: -18

1/21/1985: -17

1/21/1984: -17

1/17/1982: -17

1/17/1977: -17

1/23/1963: -17

12/22/1989: -15

1/16/1977: -15

2/26/1963: -15

1/18/1994: -14

1/16/1972: -14

1/16/1982: -13

1/16/2009: -13

Out in the Snow: Facebook users submit video & reports

You can view their latest videos below or go to Facebook and post your weather video on the WKYC Weather Warrior page. We'll then upload it here among our reports using your flipcam or other phone video.

Become our reporter on the scene, narrate your coverage.. but please keep your videos at around a minute or less.

Here's our weather page to upload video on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=13749850430

User Submitted Videos

Mac Mahafee reports a a snowy Sunday in Mentor

---

Mac Mahafee reports a a snowy Sunday in Mento - Part II

---

Saturday morning lows again below zero for a third day

CLEVELAND -- Another day of winter, another day of icy cold temperatures to start off Saturday.

The arctic chill continued around northern Ohio for one morning day before temperatures slowly begin to moderate.

Cleveland dipped to "only" -9 degrees this morning as of 8 a.m. (compared to -13 degrees on Friday morning).

The record low for today in Cleveland is -17 degrees set in 1982.

Here are some other low temperatures recorded Saturday morning through 8 a.m. for selected cities:

AKRON-CANTON : -14 degrees

CLEVELAND: -9 degrees

COLUMBUS: -11 degreees

CINCINNATI: +3 degrees

DAYTON: -5 degrees

MANSFIELD: -14 degrees

TOLEDO: -14 degrees

YOUNGSTOWN: -9 degrees

ZANESVILLE: -16 degrees

Updated - Friday's lows: Close, but not a record

CLEVELAND -- The mercury plunged to at least 12 degrees BELOW zero Friday morning, not enough to break a record low though.

The area will end the week with the coldest temperatures in several years, thanks to a large area of cold air firmly entrenched over the midwest and east coast.

Cleveland dipped to -13 degrees (new number) this morning.

The record low for today in Cleveland is -15 degrees set in 1977.

Here are some other low temperatures recorded Friday morning for selected Ohio cities:

ASHTABULA: -10 degrees
AKRON-CANTON : -14 degrees
CLEVELAND: -13 degrees
CHARDON: -8 degrees
CHIPPEWA LAKE: -14 degrees
FINDLAY: -14 degrees
LORAIN: -13 degrees
MANSFIELD: -13 degrees
NORTH RIDGEVILLE: -13 degrees
NORWALK: -14 degrees
SANDUSKY: -14 degrees
TOLEDO: -14 degrees
WARREN: -11 degrees
WOOSTER: -15 degrees
YOUNGSTOWN: -10 degrees

THURSDAY UPDATE:

Cleveland fell to -6 degrees at 11:59 pm Thursday night making that the new low temperature for the date. It just missed the record of -7 degrees set in 1972. Earlier Thursday morning, the temperature fell to -3 degrees.

Cold treats Ohio to night light show

AKRON, Ohio -- This week's arctic cold weather is treating northeast Ohio to a display normally seen in the Arctic itself: pillars of light on the night horizon.

Television meteorologists received calls Wednesday night from people wondering about what appeared to beams of light shooting upward from a line of spotlights.

Kent State University associate professor of climatology Thomas Schmidlin says such light pillars are produced in near-zero temperatures when fluttering ice crystals in the air reflect lights on the ground.

Schmidlin says it's a rare phenomenon for Ohio but is more common in typical cold-weather locations, such as Alaska.

iAlert: Why can't I see the bottom of the new school closings? How do I sign up for text alerts?

Two issues have cropped up consistently: The bottom of the crawl is hard to see on some TVs and not everyone is getting a text alert when their school closes.

I can't see all the lines on your new on-air iAlert. Fix it!

We know there are display issues and our artists and engineers are working on them; they are dealing specifically the display issue on the lowest line of information so that is moved up on the screen. We appreciate your patience. We appreciate your input and invite your comments and suggestions any time.

How do I sign up for iAlert text messages? Why haven't I gotten a text alert yet?

Click here to sign up for iAlert school closing text messages

It can take up to 36 hours for you to get a confirmation code on your mobile device.

Our iAlert system delivers text messages to your mobile phone provider, such as AT&T Wireless, Verizon, Alltel, and so on.

It is up to your provider to then deliver the text message to your phone or mobile device.

All text messaging works this way; unfortunately, the texting system is not perfect.

But you should receive a text message no matter if school is closed, delayed, or if there are after school activities canceled.

VIDEO FEATURES:

WKYC's Dan Ketterick answers your questions about iAlert:



WKYC's Assistant News Director Howard Fencl answers your questions about the new school closing crawl:

Another chilly start on the thermometer Thursday morning

CLEVELAND -- Thursday started as another bone chilling morning across northern Ohio thanks to a strong Arctic blast.

Temperatures were even worse Thursday morning than on Wednesday with a low of 0 degrees recorded at Cleveland Hopkins as of 8 a.m.

Findlay fell to -9 degrees overnight.

The record low for today in Cleveland is -7 degrees set in 1972.

We'll continue under the Arctic chill through the weekend before temperatures start to moderate a bit.

Here are some other low temperatures recorded Thursday morning for selected Ohio cities through 8 a.m.:

AKRON-CANTON : -3 degrees

CLEVELAND: 0 degrees

COLUMBUS: 1 degrees

CINCINNATI: 8 degrees

DAYTON: 0 degrees

FINDLAY: -9 degrees

MANSFIELD: -3 degrees

TOLEDO: -2 degrees

YOUNGSTOWN: 0 degrees

ZANESVILLE: 5 degrees

News: It Ain't That Cold, yet

It's cold now, but the coldest temperature ever recorded in Cleveland was just about 15 years ago.

We turn back the clock to January of 1994. Minus 20 degrees---that's without the windchill.

Snow was frozen around fire hydrants and some of the downtown government offics closed.

BRRRRRR!

Weather Focus: The Wind Chill Chart

Wind chill is the apparent temperature felt on exposed skin, which is a function of the air temperature and wind speed.

The wind chill temperature (often popularly called the wind chill factor) is always lower than the air temperature, except at higher temperatures where wind chill is considered less important.

In cases where the apparent temperature is higher than the air temperature, the heat index is used instead.



PRINT FEATURE:

Print a copy of the wind chill chart as a pdf file: CLICK HERE
VIDEO FEATURE:

WKYC Meteorologist Betsy Kling explains how to use the "Wind Chill Chart":

Video: Cleveland's Wintery Conditions Caught on Tape

It's a veritable winter wonderland in much of Ohio.

At least two-thirds of the state is under a winter weather advisory --- with
more snow, wind and arctic temperatures on the way.

A few counties in northwest Ohio are under a blizzard watch because of the
potential for heavy snow and poor visibility today and tomorrow.

Due to the bad weather, Cincinnati officials plan to open an overnight
emergency shelter through Friday.

Take a look at video shot by Andrew Fabel.

Arctic air brings chilly morning low temperatures

CLEVELAND -- Welcome to an Arctic blast that brought temperatures to near zero or colder Wednesday morning.

Temperatures plummeted to -5 degree this morning in Toledo while Cleveland Hopkins fell to 5 above as of 8 a.m. according to to the National Weather Service office. Winds chills ran below zero across the entire northern Ohio area.

The record low for today in Cleveland is -6 degrees set in 1893, so it could have been worse.

We'll continue under the Arctic chill for a while longer before temperatures start to moderate a bit by the weekend.

Here are some other low temperatures recorded Wednesday morning from selected Ohio cities through 8 a.m.:

AKRON-CANTON : 4 degrees

CLEVELAND: 5 degrees

COLUMBUS: 8 degrees

CINCINNATI: 11 degrees

DAYTON: 6 degrees

FINDLAY: 1 degree

MANSFIELD: 0 degrees

TOLEDO: -5 degrees

YOUNGSTOWN: 2 degrees

ZANESVILLE: 11 degrees

OSP: Slow down and give yourself extra time in bad weather conditions

WOOSTER -- When driving in bad weather conditions, the Ohio State Highway Patrol says to slow down, be careful and be alert.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol's Wooster Post recommends reducing your speed while traveling in bad weather conditions.

Not only can weather conditions quickly change, but roadways that appear to be clear could have icy patches.

Other suggestions include giving yourself extra travel time, wear warm clothes, and have blankets in your car should you break down.

News: Ice, cold temperatures to keep city crews clearing main roads

The city said that its plan calls for third shift crews to be split between main thoroughfares and the neighborhoods. City crews will also salt around schools, hills, curves and intersections.

Crews have been working non-stop on clearing and salting more than 3,000 lane miles and more than 10,000 residential streets.

The following are cold weather facts and tips:

• Older people are more susceptible to getting frostbite and hypothermia, a drop in body temperature, and this can cause illness.
• Stay inside as much as possible and if you have to go out, cover all exposed areas (wear warm footwear and dress in layers, wear a hat and gloves and cover your mouth to avoid getting cold air in your lungs.)
• Keep a list of emergency phone numbers next to your phone.
• Check your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors to be sure they are in working order.
• If you are using a space heater, keep it at least three feet from furniture and draperies.
• Heaters that use liquid fuel, if faulty, may cause carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Be sure to check with a doctor before shoveling snow, if you have heart problems and/or don't exercise regularly.
• Replace rubber tips on canes, walkers, and crutches. Home health care stores sell "ice picks" that fit on the ends of canes and walkers to provide extra traction.
• Understand your prescription drugs. Be aware that some medicines make people more susceptible to cold. Ask your doctor if you should be taking extra precautions.
• Have chimneys and flues checked before using them.
• Wrap inside pipes with warm rags to keep them from freezing.
• Make sure to have extra food, blankets and water available along with a flashlight and extra batteries.
• Call your friends and check on them and have a friend or loved one check on you.

Video: Snow Along I-71 N Tuesday Afternoon 1/13/09

WKYC's Frank Macek files this snow update from along I-71 near downtown on Tuesday afternoon:

Snow storm totals: January 9th thru 11th

CLEVELAND -- Around a foot of snow fell during the first major snowstorm of 2009.

According to National Weather Service and WKYC Weather Warrior reports, many areas received around one foot of snow during the 36 hour period from Friday night through early Sunday morning.

Some highlights through 11 a.m. Sunday include:

Youngstown Airport (Trumbull): 12.8"
Cleveland Airport (Cuyahoga): 10.8"
Russel Township (Geauga): 11.0"
Toledo Airport (Lucas): 11.9"
North Ridgeville: (Lorain): 9.4"
Dalton (Wayne): 7.0"

For a more complete list of snowfall totals, click on the weather tab, under "snowfall reports" or the following link:

CLICK HERE

Video: Snow in the Strongsville Area

WKYC's Frank Macek files this snow update from Strongsville late Saturday afternoon:

Video: Snow in the Akron Area

WKYC's Eric Mansfield files this snow update from the Akron area early Saturday afternoon:

Cleveland: Snow Emergency Parking Ban issued for Saturday

CLEVELAND -- Martin L. Flask, Director of Public Safety for the City of Cleveland, has declared a Snow Emergency Parking Ban for the city of Cleveland effective at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday.

As a result, stopping, standing, and parking of vehicles will be restricted and prohibited on City streets with posted red and white signs until further notice.

Parking is prohibited on designated Snow Emergency streets, which are identified as necessary for transportation, the movement of food and fuel supplies, medical care, fire, health and police protection and other vital facilities of the city.

The city says significant snowfall can cause streets to become congested and un-passable. Vehicles left parked in the roadway prevent snowplows from clearing streets, which can make driving down these streets impossible.

The resultant bottlenecks and gridlock can hamper response by emergency vehicles.

For this reason, citizens are encouraged to avoid parking vehicles on all city streets to allow snow plows sufficient time to remove snow and ice from the roads.

Photos: Friday evening snow from 1/09/09

CLEVELAND -- Another round of snowy weather pays a visit to northern Ohio on Friday making January come alive.

To see a photogallery of pictures:

>>CLICK HERE<<

News: City of Cleveland braces for winter storm

CLEVELAND -- With the possibility of 6 to 10 inches of snow this weekend, the City of Cleveland held a news conference Friday to detail its plans for clearing streets.

City officials say they are ready for the storm but want residents to know their attack plan for clearing streets will depend on current weather conditions, road conditions and the 48 hour weather forecast.

Cleveland said it is the city's policy to clean all main streets before turning to residential streets.

If the amount of snow is extreme, the city says main streets may only be cleared to a safe but fair condition to allow trucks to move into residential streets that may be impassable.

For a snow fall projected in the range this storm is expected to bring the city anticipates dispatching crews 2 hours before the storm starts to pre-treat roads and then work drivers in tandem to clear main streets. Drivers will remain on their routes for more than 8 hours after the storm ends to ensure roads remain in good condition. Systematic salting and plowing in residential neighborhoods is expected to begin approximately 36 hours after main streets are cleared.

An all purpose 24-hour number for Cleveland residents has been set up to relay information to the city. The number is 216.664.2510.

Video: First Lake Erie Ice Sighting

First Lake Erie ice sighting from Painesville Township, provided by WKYC producer Jonathan Adkins on January 9, 2009.

Snowfall Totals for Northeast Ohio

CLEVELAND -- The latest snowfall totals are now always available on wkyc.com anytime it snows this winter.

*To Post Your Reports: CLICK HERE

*To View Other Reports: CLICK HERE

*To View NWS Reports: CLICK HERE

And don't forget, the winter weather tracker is always available on wkyc.com with the latest weather maps, pinpoint radars, weather chat and more. Think wkyc.com FIRST when the weather turns bad: CLICK HERE

News: Is ODOT "Smart Salt" program really smart?

By Channel 3 Reporter Mike O'Mara

CLEVELAND -- Veteran salt truck driver, Gary Casteel is getting ready for another day on the highway. With the forecast calling for the chance of freezing rain, Casteel is loading up another bed full of salt at the ODOT station off Old Grayton Road.



The sleet starts to fall around 1:30 p.m. across Northeast Ohio. The road surface quickly getting slippery. Rush hour traffic will be building in just a few hours. Inside Casteel's truck cab, a special digital displays signals that the pavement temperature has fallen below freezing.

"It's time to lay down the salt," says Casteel as he rolls out toward I-480. "With the new temperature sensors in our rigs, we can make that call if the bridges are freezing over."

Casteel and hundreds of his fellow ODOT drivers across Northeast Ohio are part of the new "Smart Salt" campaign by the Ohio Department of Transportation.

With the price of rock salt skyrocketing, ODOT is trying to use the less salt and spend less money while keeping the roads safe.

Last year, the State of Ohio spent $76.6 million dollars on ice and snow control. ODOT used 906,623 tons of salt statewide.

Jocelynn Clemings, ODOT spokeswoman, said, "We want to use the right amount at the right time depending on conditions.

"In addition to listening to our drivers and operations managers, we're also going to use our calibrators and different methods to make sure we're using the right amount where it's prudent."

In the last month, the City of Cleveland had to close down sections of I-90 on two occasions because of multiple accidents and dangerous conditions.



Valerie Conway recalls trying to get home on Christmas Eve when the westbound lanes of I-90 were closed because of icy conditions.

"On that night on a scale of 1 to 10," said Conway, "and 10 being the best, I would give ODOT around a zero."

Larry Parson said, "I would give ODOT's "Smart Salt" program a C-minus because of the lack of salt."

West side resident Jerry Ferrell said, "It might cost somebody's life and that ain't smart. ODOT should just spend the extra money."

"We get that criticism a lot," said ODOT's Clemings. "We're used to that criticism. But what we're doing now is being more effective with what we have. We never cut corners with safety."

In the meantime, ODOT drivers like Gary Casteel are still out on the roads trying to keep the highways passable. Whether the "Smart Salt" strategy works or fails, won't be due to his lack of effort.

December in review: A month of temperature swings across northern Ohio

CLEVELAND -- The month of December saw a 64 degree temperature swing, but averaged out normal for this time of the year.

The National Weather Service office in Cleveland says the month saw a high of 65 degrees which set a record at Hopkins International Airport on December 27th. The old record was 64 degrees set in the 1930s.

That day followed the coldest one of winter with 1 degree above zero as the morning low on December 21st - the first day of winter this year which arrived at 7:04 a.m.

So for the month, the Cleveland area averaged a median temperature of 31.0 degrees, only .1 degree below normal.

Snowfall was on the light side during the month with warmer temperatures bringing rain to the area - although some snow fell on 19 days during the month. The snow tally wound up at 13.1 inches for December in Cleveland with plenty more in the snowbelt regions east of the city. That amount was 4.7 inches below the normal average for the month. For the season, Cleveland winds up only .2 inches of snow above normal since July 1st with 18.8 inches.

Meanwhile, precipitation totals from the area's rainfall averaged about .69 inches above normal at 3.83 inches of liquid for the month, occurring on 14 days.

December was also a windy month, with wind gusts clocked at 58 m.p.h. during one storm at the airport near the end of the month thanks to a strong low pressure system that swung through the area.

Finally, some degree of fog was observed on 24 out of 31 days at the airport.

To view the complete monthly reports for selected cities across northern Ohio thanks to the National Weather Service, visit our almanac page here on wkyc.com/weather:

>>>CLICK HERE<<<