A deepening low pressure system associated with a strong, closed-off 500mb low moved from the central Gulf Coast to central PA Sunday and Sunday night, taking an unusual track across the spine of the Appalachians. This placed Northeast Ohio in the area of snowfall on the northwest side of the storm Sunday evening into Monday with snow only slowly departing the Snowbelt on Monday as lake enhancement contributed to continued heavy snowfall there well into the day.
The combination of the storm's size, track, intensity, and amount of moisture led to a heavy snow event for all of Northeast Ohio. This area was sandwiched between warmer and more humid mid-level air drawn up east of the storm and colder, drier air being pulled in from the west. This tightening temperature gradient aloft (known as frontogenesis), along with the region being on the nose of a very strong easterly flow aloft, drawing in unusual amounts of moisture drawn from the Atlantic, and an atmosphere that was less stable than usual contributed to banded, very heavy snowfall across much of Northeast Ohio for several hours late Sunday evening through early Monday morning. Snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour were common in this banded snow, and continued in the deformation snow that was enhanced by Lake Erie in the Snowbelt into Monday afternoon. These prolonged heavy rates made roads nearly impassable in many areas come Monday morning. The snow was initially wet Sunday evening, with some brief mixed precipitation occurring in parts of interior Northeast Ohio. The snow became higher ratio, lighter snow into Monday morning, with winds turning gusty into Monday and causing blowing and drifting. Where lake enhanced snow continued well into Monday in the Snowbelt, totals of over 2 feet occurred.
Impacts from this event were significant for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. While schools and several businesses were closed for the holiday, many businesses scheduled to be open during the holiday either remained closed or were delayed opening. Roads across the region were impassable for hours due to heavy snow. Many accidents occurred with stranded vehicles remaining across area highways for days. The highest snowfall total from this event in Northeast Ohio was 28 inches in Thompson Township in Northeast Geauga County. Other selected totals across the area include: 27.3 inches in Harpersfield Township, 27.2 inches in Monroe Township, 26 inches in Saybrook Township, 25.5 inches in Pierpont, 24 inches in Ashtabula, 23 inches in Conneaut, Jefferson, and Madison, 21 inches in Chardon, 18 inches in Painesville and Ravenna, 17.4 inches in Cuyahoga Falls, 17 inches in Akron and Streetsboro, 16.9 inches in Mentor, 16 inches in Euclid, Kent, and Hiram, 15.7 inches in Willoughby, 15.5 inches in Cleveland Heights, 15.2 inches in Chagrin Falls, and 15 inches in Parma, Old Brooklyn, Lyndhurst, and Alliance. Cleveland Hopkins Airport recorded 10 inches of snow. Akron Canton Airport recorded 13.7 inches of snow. Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport recorded 12.3 inches of snow.

Winter Storm in MEDINA, OHIO
From 16-JAN-22 17:00:00 to 17-JAN-22 09:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snow began during the evening hours of January 16, quickly increasing in intensity during the overnight hours. Many locations woke up to a foot or more of snow on the morning of January 17, causing impassable roads across the area. Lake enhanced snowfall continued across the area during the morning hours of January 17 before fading away to just flurries and blowing snow during the afternoon hours. Total snowfall for the event in Medina County ranged from 6 to 14 inches of snow. The maximum snowfall for this event was in Hinckley, where a snow spotter recorded 13.6 inches of snow. Other measured snowfall amounts for this event included: 11.8 inches in Medina, 11.3 inches in Wadsworth, 10.2 inches in Brunswick, 7.5 inches in Lodi, and 5.5 inches in Homerville.

Winter Storm in SUMMIT, OHIO
From 16-JAN-22 16:00:00 to 17-JAN-22 11:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snow began during the evening hours of January 16, quickly increasing in intensity during the overnight hours. Many locations woke up to a foot or more of snow on the morning of January 17, causing impassable roads across the area. Lake enhanced snowfall continued across the area during the morning hours of January 17 before fading away to just flurries and blowing snow during the afternoon hours. Total snowfall for the event in Summit County ranged from 9 to 19 inches of snow. The maximum snowfall for this event was in Boston Heights, where a snow spotter recorded 19.5 inches of snow. Other measured snowfall amounts for this event included: 19.3 inches in Sagamore Hills, 17.7 inches in Munroe Falls, 17.4 inches in Cuyahoga Falls, 17 inches in Akron, 16.5 inches in Bath Township, 16.1 inches in Tallmadge, 14.5 inches in Fairlawn, 14.2 inches in Stow, 13.7 inches at Akron-Canton Airport, and 10.2 inches in New Franklin.

Winter Storm in ASHLAND, OHIO
From 16-JAN-22 17:00:00 to 17-JAN-22 08:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Snow began during the evening hours of January 16, quickly increasing in intensity during the overnight hours. Many locations woke up to a foot or more of snow on the morning of January 17, causing impassable roads across the area. Total snowfall for the event in Ashland County ranged from 3 to 8 inches of snow. The maximum snowfall for this event was in Polk, where a CoCoRaHS Observer recorded 8 inches of snow. Other measured snowfall amounts for this event included: 6.2 inches in Loudonville, 4 inches in Ashland, and 3 inches in Hayesville - showing a sharp gradient across the county.

Winter Storm in ASHTABULA LAKESHORE, OHIO
From 16-JAN-22 17:00:00 to 17-JAN-22 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snow began during the evening hours of January 16, quickly increasing in intensity during the overnight hours. Many locations woke up to a foot or more of snow on the morning of January 17, causing impassable roads across the area. Lake enhanced snowfall continued across the area during the morning and afternoon hours of January 17 before fading away to just flurries and blowing snow during evening hours. Total snowfall for the event in northern Ashtabula County ranged from 22 to 26 inches of snow. The maximum snowfall for this event was in Saybrook Township, where a snow spotter recorded 26 inches of snow. Other measured snowfall amounts for this event included: 24 inches in Ashtabula and 23 inches in Conneaut.

Winter Storm in ASHTABULA, OHIO
From 16-JAN-22 17:00:00 to 17-JAN-22 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snow began during the evening hours of January 16, quickly increasing in intensity during the overnight hours. Many locations woke up to a foot or more of snow on the morning of January 17, causing impassable roads across the area. Lake enhanced snowfall continued across the area during the morning and afternoon hours of January 17 before fading away to just flurries and blowing snow during evening hours. Total snowfall for the event in southern Ashtabula County ranged from 16 to 27 inches of snow. The maximum snowfall for this event was in Harpersfield Township, where a snow spotter recorded 27.3 inches of snow. Other measured snowfall amounts for this event included: 27.2 inches in Monroe Township, 25.5 inches in Pierpont, 25 inches in Trumbull Township, 23 inches in Jefferson, 20.3 in Colebrook Township, 20 inches in Kelloggsville, 17.6 inches in Cherry Valley, and 12.7 inches in Orwell. Lesser amounts in the southern portions of Ashtabula County were attributed to a brief period of mixed precipitation.

Winter Storm in WAYNE, OHIO
From 16-JAN-22 16:00:00 to 17-JAN-22 09:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snow began during the evening hours of January 16, quickly increasing in intensity during the overnight hours. Many locations woke up to a foot or more of snow on the morning of January 17, causing impassable roads across the area. Total snowfall for the event in Wayne County ranged from 5 to 14 inches of snow. The maximum snowfall for this event was in Chippewa Township, where a snow spotter recorded 13.5 inches of snow. Other measured snowfall amounts for this event included: 7.3 inches in Creston, 6.5 inches in Mount Eaton, and 5 inches in Wooster.

Winter Storm in HOLMES, OHIO
From 16-JAN-22 16:00:00 to 17-JAN-22 09:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snow began during the evening hours of January 16, quickly increasing in intensity during the overnight hours. Many locations woke up to a foot or more of snow on the morning of January 17, causing impassable roads across the area. Total snowfall for the event in Holmes County ranged from 7 to 10 inches of snow. The maximum snowfall for this event was east of Killbuck, where a snow spotter recorded 10.3 inches of snow. A cooperative observer in Millersburg recorded 7 inches of snow.

Winter Storm in LAKE, OHIO
From 16-JAN-22 17:00:00 to 17-JAN-22 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snow began during the evening hours of January 16, quickly increasing in intensity during the overnight hours. Many locations woke up to a foot or more of snow on the morning of January 17, causing impassable roads across the area. Lake enhanced snowfall continued across the area during the morning and afternoon hours of January 17 before fading away to just flurries and blowing snow during evening hours. Total snowfall for the event in Lake County ranged from 13 to 23 inches of snow. The maximum snowfall for this event was in Kirtland Hills, where a snow spotter recorded 23.1 inches of snow. Other measured snowfall amounts for this event included: 22.1 inches in Madison, 21.7 inches in Concord Township, 18 inches in Painesville, 17 inches in North Madison, 16.9 inches in Mentor, 15.7 inches in Willoughby, 15.2 inches in Perry, and 14.2 inches in Wickliffe.

Winter Storm in STARK, OHIO
From 16-JAN-22 16:00:00 to 17-JAN-22 10:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snow began during the evening hours of January 16, quickly increasing in intensity during the overnight hours. Many locations woke up to a foot or more of snow on the morning of January 17, causing impassable roads across the area. Total snowfall for the event in Stark County ranged from 13 to 15 inches of snow. The maximum snowfall for this event was in Washington Township, where a snow spotter recorded 15 inches of snow. Other measured snowfall amounts for this event included: 13 inches in Canton and Alliance.

Winter Storm in GEAUGA, OHIO
From 16-JAN-22 17:00:00 to 17-JAN-22 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snow began during the evening hours of January 16, quickly increasing in intensity during the overnight hours. Many locations woke up to a foot or more of snow on the morning of January 17, causing impassable roads across the area. Lake enhanced snowfall continued across the area during the morning and afternoon hours of January 17 before fading away to just flurries and blowing snow during evening hours. Total snowfall for the event in Geauga County ranged from 11 to 28 inches of snow. The maximum snowfall for this event was in Thompson Township, where a snow spotter recorded 28 inches of snow. Other measured snowfall amounts for this event included: 23.9 inches in Hambden Township, 21 inches in Chardon, 20.5 inches in Montville, 19.3 inches in Munson Township, 19.2 inches in Auburn Township, 17.2 in Burton, 14 inches in South Russell, and 11.5 inches in Middlefield.

Winter Storm in PORTAGE, OHIO
From 16-JAN-22 16:00:00 to 17-JAN-22 13:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snow began during the evening hours of January 16, quickly increasing in intensity during the overnight hours. Many locations woke up to a foot or more of snow on the morning of January 17, causing impassable roads across the area. Lake enhanced snowfall continued across the area during the morning and afternoon hours of January 17 before fading away to just flurries and blowing snow during evening hours. Total snowfall for the event in Portage County ranged from 11 to 18 inches of snow. The maximum snowfall for this event was in Hiram, where a snow spotter recorded 18.6 inches of snow. Other measured snowfall amounts for this event included: 18.3 inches in Kent, 18 inches in Ravenna, 17 inches in Streetsboro, 16.5 inches in Mantua, 13 inches at Berlin Lake Dam, and 12.6 inches in Mogadore.

Winter Storm in LORAIN, OHIO
From 16-JAN-22 17:00:00 to 17-JAN-22 09:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snow began during the evening hours of January 16, quickly increasing in intensity during the overnight hours. Many locations woke up to a foot or more of snow on the morning of January 17, causing impassable roads across the area. Lake enhanced snowfall continued across the area during the morning hours of January 17 before fading away to just flurries and blowing snow during the afternoon hours. Total snowfall for the event in Lorain County ranged from 6 to 10 inches of snow. The maximum snowfall for this event was in North Ridgeville, where a snow spotter recorded 9.5 inches of snow. Other measured snowfall amounts for this event included: 8.2 inches in Elyria, 6.5 inches in Oberlin, and 6 inches in Wellington.

Winter Storm in CUYAHOGA, OHIO
From 16-JAN-22 17:00:00 to 17-JAN-22 11:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snow began during the evening hours of January 16, quickly increasing in intensity during the overnight hours. Many locations woke up to a foot or more of snow on the morning of January 17, causing impassable roads across the area. Lake enhanced snowfall continued across the area during the morning hours of January 17 before fading away to just flurries and blowing snow during the afternoon hours. Total snowfall for the event in Cuyahoga County ranged from 9 to 16 inches of snow. The maximum snowfall for this event was in Euclid, where a snow spotter recorded 16 inches of snow. Other measured snowfall amounts for this event included: 15.5 inches in Cleveland Heights, 15.2 inches in Chagrin Falls, 15 inches in the Old Brooklyn neighborhood of Cleveland, Parma, and Lyndhurst, 14 inches in Shaker Heights, 13.8 inches in Garfield Heights, 13.5 inches in Strongsville, 13.3 inches in Seven Hills and South Euclid, 13 inches in Solon, 12.3 inches in North Royalton, 12 inches in Lakewood, 11.3 inches in Rocky River, 11.2 inches in Brecksville, 10 inches at Cleveland Hopkins Airport, 9.3 inches in Westlake, and 9 inches in Berea.

Winter Storm in TRUMBULL, OHIO
From 16-JAN-22 16:00:00 to 17-JAN-22 13:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snow began during the evening hours of January 16, quickly increasing in intensity during the overnight hours. Many locations woke up to a foot or more of snow on the morning of January 17, causing impassable roads across the area. Lake enhanced snowfall continued across the area during the morning and afternoon hours of January 17 before fading away to just flurries and blowing snow during evening hours. Total snowfall for the event in Trumbull County ranged from 8 to 19 inches of snow. The maximum snowfall for this event was in Southington, where a snow spotter recorded 19 inches of snow. Other measured snowfall amounts for this event included: 16 inches in Farmdale, 15.8 inches in Cortland, 15.6 inches in Newton Falls, 14 inches in Kinsman Township, 13.5 inches at Mosquito Creek Lake, 13 inches in Warren, 12.3 inches at Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport, and 8.8 inches in Leavittsburg. Some lesser amounts in Trumbull County were attributed to a brief period of mixed precipitation.

Winter Storm in MAHONING, OHIO
From 16-JAN-22 16:00:00 to 17-JAN-22 10:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snow began during the evening hours of January 16, quickly increasing in intensity during the overnight hours. Many locations woke up to a foot or more of snow on the morning of January 17, causing impassable roads across the area. Lake enhanced snowfall continued across the area during the morning hours of January 17 before fading away to just flurries and blowing snow during the afternoon hours. Total snowfall for the event in Mahoning County ranged from 9 to 13 inches of snow. The maximum snowfall for this event was in Austintown, where a snow spotter recorded 13 inches of snow. Other measured snowfall amounts for this event included: 12 inches in Canfield, 11 inches north of Salem, 10 inches in Youngstown, and 9 inches in Poland. Some lesser amounts in Mahoning County were attributed to a brief period of mixed precipitation.