Winter Storm Alert

Finally, after hours and hours of heavy rainfall and gusty winds, the heavy rain has switched to heavy snow over a large portion of Northwest Ohio and Northeast Indiana.  With the earlier than anticipated changeover to heavy snow, I expect snow totals to be higher than originally expected.  Instead of the 2-5 inches for extreme western Ohio, expect 4-8 inches with possibly higher amounts.  One thing that could go wrong is that the snow would end early than anticipated, which would bring snowfall amounts to 3-6 inches.  Farther east, near Defiance and Toledo, I expect 1-3 inches or possibly higher, with snowfall totals around an inch east of this line.  The Winter Storm Warning is only for extreme western Ohio, for the counties of Paulding, Defiance, and Williams Counties.  The winter storm warning is calling for accumulations of 4-8 inches or more in these areas, with the possibility of extremely heavy snow and thundersnow.  Just a few minutes ago, there was thunder and lightning here in Antwerp.  I have heard that thundersnow has been reported all over Northeast Indiana and Northwest Ohio, so expect more thundersnow through 7 or 8 tonight.  Even though radar is showing the back edge of the snow moving westward through Northwest Ohio, I expect that as the storm system turns to the northeast, that the snow will increase in intensity and duration.  The snow will gradually lighten during the early morning hours and taper off by sunrise.  Scattered light snow showers should continue through the morning hours, with cloudy conditions prevailing for most of the day.  Total snowfall accumulations will be 5-8 inches in Northeast Indiana, with 8-11 inches possible in Angola and Hillsdale, Michigan, while snowfall totals in Northwest Ohio will range from 4-8 inches in Paulding County to 8-11 inches in Williams County.