An area of strong low pressure moved up the Ohio Valley on December 12th.  This low shifted to New England by early on the 13th.  Cold north to northwest winds behind this low caused lake effect snow showers to develop over Northeast Ohio during the afternoon hours of December 12th.  The snow activity intensified on December 13th with periods of moderate to heavy snow during the morning and afternoon hours.  Northwest winds gusted to as much as 30 mph on the 13th.  The strong winds and snow combined to create near zero visibilities and considerable blowing and drifting.  Snowfall rates with the heaviest bands approached two inches per hour.  The heaviest snowfall on the 13th fell on southeastern Cuyahoga County, southern Geauga County and the northern portions of Summit and Portage Counties.  The lake effect activity lessened during the late evening hours of the 13th and early morning hours of the 14th.  The activity picked up again during the morning of the 14th over inland Ashtabula County and northeastern Trumbull County.  The snow finally tapered off from west to east late on the 14th and early on the 15th.  Snowfall totals over much of the Northeast Ohio snowbelt were in excess of a foot from the 12th through the 15th.  Peak totals of over two feet were reported in Portage and Trumbull Counties.  Peak totals for each of the counties affected were:  29.5 inches at Kinsman in Trumbull County;  25.3 inches at Kent in Portage County; 22.3 inches at Roaming Shores in inland Ashtabula County; 21.2 inches at Twinsburg in Summit County; 19.0 inched in Russell Township in Geauga County; 16.8 inches at Solon in Cuyahoga County; 12.0 inches at South Madison in Lake County and 9.5 inches at Medina in Medina County.  Officially, 14.5 inches of snow was measured at the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport in Trumbull County on the 12th through the 14th.  Drifts of up to three feet deep were reported in some areas.  Most of the snow in Lake and Medina Counties fell on the 13th.  Travel during this event was treacherous at times.  Many schools were closed or delayed on the 13th and 14th.

Lake-Effect Snow in TRUMBULL, OHIO
From 12-DEC-10 14:00:00 to 15-DEC-10 03:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 250.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy lake effect snow fell on portions of Trumbull County from the afternoon hours of December 12th through the early morning hours of December 15th.  Snowfall totals ranged from just a few inches in the southeastern corner of the county to over two feet in the northeast.  A peak total of 29.5 inches was reported at Kinsman.  Snowfall rates with the heaviest bands of snow approached two inches per hour.  Northwest winds gusted to as much as 30 mph on the 13th.  The snow and gusty winds combined to create near zero visibilities and considerable blowing and drifting.  Travel was treacherous during this event.  Officially, 14.5 inches of snow was measured at the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport on December 12th through the 14th.  Many school districts were closed or delayed on the 13th and 14th.

Lake-Effect Snow in GEAUGA, OHIO
From 12-DEC-10 13:00:00 to 15-DEC-10 01:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 250.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy lake effect snow fell on most of Geauga County from the afternoon hours of December 12th through the early morning hours of December 15th.  Snowfall totals over the county generally ranged from 10 to 16 inches.  A peak total of 19.0 inches was reported in Russell Township.  Snowfall rates with the heaviest bands of snow exceeded an inch per hour.  Northwest winds gusted to as much as 30 mph on the 13th.  The snow and gusty winds combined to create near zero visibilities and considerable blowing and drifting.  Travel was treacherous during this event.  Many school districts were closed or delayed on the 13th and 14th.

Lake-Effect Snow in LAKE, OHIO
From 12-DEC-10 13:00:00 to 14-DEC-10 21:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 200.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy lake effect snow fell on portions of Lake County from the afternoon hours of December 12th through the evening hours of December 14th.  Snowfall totals ranged from just a few inches to around a foot.  A peak total of 12.0 inches was reported at South Madison.  Snowfall rates with the heaviest bands of snow exceeded and inch per hour.  Northwest winds gusted to as much as 30 mph on the 13th.  The snow and gusty winds combined to create near zero visibilities and considerable blowing and drifting.  Travel was treacherous during this event.  Many school districts were closed or delayed on the 13th and 14th.

Lake-Effect Snow in MEDINA, OHIO
From 12-DEC-10 13:00:00 to 14-DEC-10 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 150.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy lake effect snow fell on the northern half of Medina County from the afternoon hours of December 12th through midday on the 14th.  The heaviest snow fell on the 13th.  A peak total of 9.5 inches was reported at Medina.  Snowfall rates on the 13th were as much as an inch per hour.  Northwest winds gusted to as much as 30 mph on the 13th.  The snow and gusty winds combined to create near zero visibilities and considerable blowing and drifting.  Travel was treacherous during this event.  Many school districts were closed or delayed on the 13th and 14th.

Lake-Effect Snow in SUMMIT, OHIO
From 12-DEC-10 13:00:00 to 15-DEC-10 01:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 500.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy lake effect snow fell on portions of Summit County from the afternoon hours of December 12th through the early morning hours of December 15th.  Snowfall totals ranged from just a few inches at the southern end of the county to over 20 inches in the north.  A peak total of 21.2 inches was reported at Twinsburg.  Snowfall rates with the heaviest bands of snow approached two inches per hour.  Northwest winds gusted to as much as 30 mph on the 13th.  The snow and gusty winds combined to create near zero visibilities and considerable blowing and drifting.  Travel was treacherous during this event.  Many school districts were closed or delayed on the 13th and 14th.

Lake-Effect Snow in PORTAGE, OHIO
From 12-DEC-10 13:00:00 to 15-DEC-10 01:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 300.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy lake effect snow fell on portions of Portage County from the afternoon hours of December 12th through the early morning hours of December 15th.  Snowfall totals ranged from just a few inches at the southern end of the county to over two feet in the north.  A peak total of 25.6 inches was reported at Kent.  Snowfall rates with the heaviest bands of snow approached two inches per hour.  Northwest winds gusted to as much as 30 mph on the 13th.  The snow and gusty winds combined to create near zero visibilities and considerable blowing and drifting.  Travel was treacherous during this event.  Many school districts were closed or delayed on the 13th and 14th.

Lake-Effect Snow in CUYAHOGA, OHIO
From 12-DEC-10 13:00:00 to 15-DEC-10 01:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 300.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy lake effect snow fell on portions of Cuyahoga County from the afternoon hours of December 12th through the early morning hours of December 15th.  Snowfall totals ranged from just a few inches at the western end of the county to over 15 inches in the southeast.  A peak total of 16.8 inches was reported at Solon.  Snowfall rates with the heaviest bands of snow exceeded an inch per hour.  Northwest winds gusted to as much as 30 mph on the 13th.  The snow and gusty winds combined to create near zero visibilities and considerable blowing and drifting.  Travel was treacherous during this event.  Many school districts were closed or delayed on the 13th and 14th.

Lake-Effect Snow in ASHTABULA, OHIO
From 12-DEC-10 12:00:00 to 15-DEC-10 01:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 250.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy lake effect snow fell on portions of inland Ashtabula County from the afternoon hours of December 12th through the early morning hours of December 15th.  Snowfall totals ranged from just a few inches to over 20 inches in the north.  A peak total of 22.3 inches was reported at Roaming Shores.  Snowfall rates with the heaviest bands of snow approached two inches per hour.  Northwest winds gusted to as much as 30 mph on the 13th.  The snow and gusty winds combined to create near zero visibilities and considerable blowing and drifting.  Travel was treacherous during this event.  Many school districts were closed or delayed on the 13th and 14th.