A Lake Effect Snow Warning was issued for the greater Akron area on Wednesday: What you should know 🌨️

It’s our turn.

The relatively snow-free days are coming to an end.

A strong arctic cold front will cross northern Ohio Wednesday night into Thursday, bringing gusty winds and some snow.

According to the National Weather Service, it could rain at first, but if temperatures quickly drop below freezing, a sudden heavy snowfall of about an inch is expected, making driving difficult.

Snowmaking machines fueled at the Brandywine and Boston Mills ski areas

The strong wind gusts of up to 45 miles per hour in the greater Akron area could lead to blowing and blowing snow, the weather service says.

The weather service warns that the gusts of wind could cause some branches to fall, and power outages are possible.

Overnight wind chills in the area could be in the single digits.

Snow showers are expected after the cold front moves through – some reinforced by Lake Erie.

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The weather service previously listed Summit County under a winter storm watch from Wednesday afternoon through early Friday; it is no longer in force.

Summit County is now under one Snow warning due to lake effect from 4:00 p.m. Wednesday to 4:00 a.m. Friday as some snow squalls could create hazardous driving conditions.

2 to 5 inches of snow is expected in the greater Akron area, with higher amounts possible in northern Summit County.

Already battered counties along Lake Erie could see another 6 to 10 inches fall.

Snow showers are forecast until Friday before it gets slightly warmer on Saturday, reaching 30 degrees Celsius.

Highs of around 50 degrees are possible until Tuesday.

What is Lake Effect Snow?

According to the weather service, lake-effect snow forms when cold air meets the relatively warmer open waters of the Great Lakes and “heat and moisture are transferred to the lowest part of the atmosphere.” At this point, as the air rises, clouds form and turn into a narrow band that can produce 2 to 3 inches of snow per hour or more.

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What is the snow forecast for Akron?

Wednesday: There is a chance of snow showers, mainly after 4 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 35. Windy, with a south wind 17 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph. The chance of precipitation is 30%. Overall, less than half an inch of snow accumulation is possible during the day.

Wednesday evening: Rain and snow showers, snowing after 9 p.m. Lowest temperature at 6 p.m. Windy, with a west wind 16 to 22 mph, with gusts up to 43 mph. The chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Thursday: Snow showers likely. Patchy snow will blow after 1 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 28. Windy, with a west wind 18 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 44 mph. The chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Thursday evening: Snow showers likely, mainly before 1am. Cloudy, becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 20. Northwest wind 9 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. The chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than an inch possible.

Friday: There is a slight chance of snow showers before 1 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 30. West wind 9 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. The chance of precipitation is 20%.

Friday evening: Mostly cloudy, low around 18.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 33.

Saturday evening: Partly cloudy, with a low around 27.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high of around 45°C.

Sunday evening: Chance of rain after 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, low around 37°C. The chance of precipitation is 50%.

Monday: Shower. High near 50. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Monday evening: Showers likely. Cloudy, with lows around 41 degrees. The chance of precipitation is 70%.

Tuesday: There may be showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 49. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Akron weather hourly

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This article originally appeared in the Akron Beacon Journal: Lake Effect Snow Warning for Greater Akron on Wednesday