Mid-November Snow, Lake Effect, and Cold Temperatures

Synopsis

A winter storm entered northern Ohio and northwestern Pennsylvania on November 11 - 13, 2019. This storm brought impressive snowfall amounts of 8 to 16 inches of snow and the first significant snowfall accumulation for the 2019-2020 winter season. The storm was characterized in two parts: Synoptic snowfall with a low pressure system and lake effect snow. 

On November 10, weak low pressure developed across the Upper Midwest, extending a cold front from the Rockies towards the Upper Great Lakes.  This low pressure system continued to weaken as the cold front progressed eastward across the Ohio Valley as a secondary low pressure system developed along a cold front in the Tennessee Valley.  This low tracked northeastward along the cold front and deepened to 1008 mb by the time it reached southwest Pennsylvania on the evening of November 11.  At the same time, a 1045 mb high pressure system brought an arctic air mass down into the central US behind the cold front.  Precipitation first fell as rain on November 11 throughout much of northern Ohio and northwestern Pennsylvania before changing over to snow as arctic air began to surge into the region.  A widespread 2 to 8 inches of snow fell across the region with this synoptic event from November 11 into the morning of November 12. 

In this system's wake, cold temperatures and northwesterly winds filtered across Lake Erie, created an ideal set up for lake effect snow. Lake effect snow began almost immediately after the passage of the synoptic storm system and lasted from the morning of November 12 through the morning November 13.  Lake effect snow bands persisted in a northwest to southeast orientation and dumped up to a foot of snow in some places in Geauga, Ashtabula, and Lorain Counties in Ohio. These snow bands of heavy snow and reduced visibility caused major disruptions to automobile travel, with multiple accidents along Interstates 80 and 90 and Ohio State Route 8, which prompted several road closures around the region.  

November 11-13, 2019

Low temperature records were broken at many stations in northern OH on November 13th.  Single digit lows were recorded at Mansfield (6 degrees) and Toledo (8 degrees) both of which broke their previous records of 13 degrees from 1986 and 1911, respectively.  Akron-Canton had a low of 10 which broke the previous record of 12 from 1911, Cleveland had a low of 13 which broke the previous record of 15 also from 1911, and Youngstown had a low of 14 which broke their previous record of 17 from 1986.

Temperatures dropped quickly the evening before and two records were set for November 12th.  Youngstown reached 15 degrees which broke the previous record of 19 for the day from 1950.  Mansfield reached 13 degrees which broke the previous record of 16 from 1976.  Toledo and Akron-Canton tied their record lows for November 12th.

Public Information Statement
Spotter Reports
National Weather Service Cleveland OH
1250 PM EST Wed Nov 13 2019

...48 Hour Storm Total Snowfall Ending 11 AM EST Wednesday...

The following are unofficial observations taken during the past 48
hours for the storm that has been affecting our region. Appreciation
is extended to highway departments, cooperative observers, Skywarn
spotters and media for these reports. This summary also is available
on our home page at weather.gov/cleveland

********************STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL********************

LOCATION          STORM TOTAL     TIME/DATE   COMMENTS
                     SNOWFALL           OF
                     /INCHES/   MEASUREMENT

OHIO

...Ashland County...
   6 S Polk               1.5   700 AM 11/12  CoCoRaHS
   4 SW Ashland           0.5   700 AM 11/12  CoCoRaHS

...Ashtabula County...
   3 ENE Trumbull        15.9   508 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   2 N Cherry Valley     15.7   630 AM 11/13  Trained Spotter
   1 ENE Jefferson       13.5   451 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   2 S Harpersfield      13.0   540 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   2 ESE Pierpont        11.2   758 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   1 E Orwell            10.8   803 AM 11/13  Trained Spotter
   2 ESE Monroe Center    8.4   837 AM 11/13  Trained Spotter
   3 E South Madison      8.3   758 AM 11/13  Trained Spotter
   3 SSW Kingsville       8.0   826 AM 11/13  Trained Spotter
   1 ENE Geneva           8.0   822 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   1 SSE Kelloggsville    6.5   721 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   2 SW Edgewood          5.3   446 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   Edgewood               4.6   930 AM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   1 WSW Conneaut         4.0   910 AM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   2 S Ashtabula          4.0   616 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter

...Crawford County...
   1 W Galion             6.5   600 AM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   1 NW Bucyrus           5.5   530 AM 11/12  CoCoRaHS
   3 WSW Tiro             5.4   716 AM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   2 E Oceola             4.0   740 AM 11/12  Trained Spotter

...Cuyahoga County...
   1 W Chagrin Falls      8.4   927 AM 11/13  Trained Spotter
   1 SSW Solon            8.0   820 AM 11/13  Trained Spotter
   1 ENE Lyndhurst        7.0   950 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   Lyndhurst              7.0   500 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   Seven Hills            6.4   700 AM 11/13  Trained Spotter
   3 SW North Royalton    6.1   942 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   2 WSW Seven Hills      6.0  1015 AM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   1 SE Strongsville      5.0   800 AM 11/13  CoCoRaHS
   2 NNW Parma            3.5   800 AM 11/13  CoCoRaHS
   2 SW Cleveland Heigh   3.5   647 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   1 W Shaker Heights     3.1  1046 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   Cleveland Hopkins Ai   2.9   651 PM 11/12  ASOS
   Beachwood              2.8   956 AM 11/13  Trained Spotter
   Cleveland-Old Brookl   2.5   506 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   1 SSW Westlake         1.7   800 AM 11/13  CoCoRaHS
   1 SSW Lakewood         1.1   700 AM 11/12  CoCoRaHS
   2 NNW Euclid           1.1   946 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter

...Erie County...
   N Berlin Heights       5.1   700 AM 11/12  CoCoRaHS
   2 NNE Castalia         3.0   615 AM 11/12  CoCoRaHS
   Huron                  2.0   550 AM 11/12  Trained Spotter

...Geauga County...
   1 SSE Montville       15.8   600 AM 11/13  CoCoRaHS
   2 SE South Madison    15.0   523 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   1 NE Middlefield      11.9   631 AM 11/13  Trained Spotter
   2 W South Thompson    11.6   624 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   4 S Madison           11.3   700 AM 11/13  CoCoRaHS
   5 ESE Chagrin Falls   11.0   645 AM 11/13  CoCoRaHS
   5 SSE Chardon          9.8   615 AM 11/13  CoCoRaHS
   2 W Chardon            9.0   626 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   1 N Chardon            6.0   910 AM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   1 W South Russell      5.8   814 AM 11/13  Trained Spotter
   1.3 E Chardon          5.4   800 AM 11/12  Co-Op Observer
   1 E South Russell      5.1   820 AM 11/13  Trained Spotter

...Hancock County...
   WSW Findlay            4.0   900 AM 11/12  CoCoRaHS

...Huron County...
   1 N Bellevue           4.6   400 AM 11/12  CoCoRaHS
   3 NW New London        4.4   605 AM 11/12  Trained Spotter

...Knox County...
   4 NNW Fredericktown    3.0   700 AM 11/12  CoCoRaHS

...Lake County...
   4 SSE Painesville      6.5  1000 AM 11/12  Broadcast Media
   1 WSW Madison          6.3   701 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   1 ENE Madison          6.0   701 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   2 WNW Concord          4.1   844 AM 11/13  Trained Spotter
   3 SW Willoughby        3.9   700 AM 11/13  CoCoRaHS
   3 WSW Perry            3.7  1146 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   1 SSE Mentor           2.9   847 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   1 E Mentor             2.6   746 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   North Madison          1.5   522 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter

...Lorain County...
   Wellington            11.7  1125 AM 11/12  Public
   4 NNE Wellington       8.0  1234 PM 11/12  Public
   Elyria                 3.7   828 AM 11/13  Trained Spotter
   SE Elyria              3.7   740 AM 11/13  CoCoRaHS
   2 NE North Ridgevill   3.6   708 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter

...Lucas County...
   3 SSW Oregon           4.3   800 AM 11/12  CoCoRaHS
   7 NNE Swanton          4.0   700 AM 11/12  CoCoRaHS
   Toledo Express Airpo   4.0   700 AM 11/12  ASOS
   2 NNE Waterville       3.6   900 AM 11/12  CoCoRaHS

...Mahoning County...
   1 NW Poland            4.0   640 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   1 NW Austintown        3.2   634 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   Canfield               3.0   720 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   1 NNW Canfield         2.8   737 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter

...Marion County...
   4 SSE Marion           3.8   700 AM 11/12  CoCoRaHS

...Medina County...
   1 ENE Brunswick        5.8   700 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   2 ESE Hinckley         5.4   737 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   1 ENE Medina           4.8   730 AM 11/13  CoCoRaHS
   1 NE Brunswick         4.4   700 AM 11/12  CoCoRaHS
   2 N Lodi               4.1   619 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   5 WNW Wadsworth        3.5   500 AM 11/13  CoCoRaHS
   2 E Homerville         2.5   611 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter

...Morrow County...
   5 ESE Mount Gilead     3.8   600 AM 11/13  CoCoRaHS

...Ottawa County...
   3.3 S Rocky Ridge      4.5  1200 AM 11/12  Co-Op Observer
   7 W Port Clinton       2.8   800 AM 11/12  CoCoRaHS
   3 W Port Clinton       2.5   900 AM 11/12  CoCoRaHS

...Portage County...
   N Hiram               12.0   800 AM 11/13  CoCoRaHS
   1 NNW Mantua          10.0   700 AM 11/13  CoCoRaHS
   1 SSW Brady Lake       5.8   732 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   4 NE Kent              5.3   800 AM 11/13  CoCoRaHS
   2 W Aurora             4.0   700 AM 11/13  CoCoRaHS
   2 SSW Streetsboro      4.0   700 AM 11/13  CoCoRaHS

...Richland County...
   1 NW Lexington         4.1   600 AM 11/12  CoCoRaHS
   1 W Mansfield          4.0   956 AM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   5 NW Mifflin           3.5   749 AM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   Mansfield Lahm Airpo   3.0   700 PM 11/12  ASOS

...Sandusky County...
   Clyde                  4.5   918 AM 11/12  Trained Spotter

...Seneca County...
   5 SE Tiffin            5.5   700 AM 11/12  CoCoRaHS

...Stark County...
   4 S Alliance           3.0   601 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   1 ESE Alliance         1.8   632 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   4 W North Canton       1.5   825 AM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   3 NW Waynesburg        1.3   706 AM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   Magnolia               1.0   420 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   3 SE East Canton       1.0   635 AM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   6 WNW Canton           1.0   700 AM 11/12  CoCoRaHS

...Summit County...
   2 NNE Stow             9.1   849 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   1 NNE Twinsburg        8.3   801 AM 11/13  Trained Spotter
   1 SE Sagamore Hills    8.2   812 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   1 NNE Bath             3.8   700 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   Fairlawn               3.8   912 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   1 SW Munroe Falls      3.7   700 AM 11/13  Co-Op Observer
   2 ESE Fairlawn         3.5   843 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   1 NW Tallmadge         3.2   822 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   3 SSW Barberton        3.0   644 AM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   Akron-Canton Airport   2.4   651 PM 11/12  ASOS
   2 SE Cuyahoga Falls    2.0   810 AM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   1 ESE Cuyahoga Falls   1.4   700 AM 11/13  CoCoRaHS

...Trumbull County...
   1 WNW Newton Falls     9.8   805 AM 11/13  Trained Spotter
   5 S Orwell             8.0   200 PM 11/12  Public
   Cortland               5.7   649 AM 11/13  Trained Spotter
   Youngstown Regional    4.9   651 PM 11/12  ASOS
   1 N Newton Falls       3.5   700 AM 11/12  CoCoRaHS
   2 S Williamsfield      2.5   803 AM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   1.7 W Bolindale        2.1   700 AM 11/13  Co-Op Observer
   2 WSW Warren           2.0   556 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   Mosquito Creek Lake    2.0   700 AM 11/13  Co-Op Observer

...Wayne County...
   3 ENE Doylestown       4.0   630 AM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   Kidron                 2.0   728 AM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   4 SSE West Salem       2.0   720 AM 11/12  CoCoRaHS

...Wood County...
   1 W Bowling Green      4.7   700 AM 11/12  CoCoRaHS
   1 S Bowling Green      3.5  1224 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   2 WSW Perrysburg       3.0   500 AM 11/12  CoCoRaHS
   3 NW Bowling Green     3.0   800 AM 11/12  CoCoRaHS

...Wyandot County...
   4 NW Harpster          4.0   736 AM 11/12  Trained Spotter

PENNSYLVANIA

...Crawford County...
   1 WNW Conneaut Lake    6.9   700 AM 11/13  CoCoRaHS
   1 WSW Drakes Mills     6.8   800 AM 11/13  Trained Spotter
   3 WNW Springboro       6.4   700 AM 11/13  CoCoRaHS
   1 S Meadville          5.5   947 AM 11/13  Trained Spotter
   1 NE Meadville         5.2   707 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   0.8 SW Linesville      4.0   730 AM 11/13  Co-Op Observer
   1 NNE Meadville        3.9   502 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   7 NW Meadville         3.6   700 AM 11/12  CoCoRaHS
   1 N Canadohta Lake     2.9   730 AM 11/13  Trained Spotter
   4 NW Townville         2.8   729 AM 11/12  Trained Spotter

...Erie County...
   4 S Wesleyville       11.5   700 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   4 SE Harborcreek      10.0   639 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   1 NW Harborcreek       8.7   848 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   2 ESE North East       8.1   732 AM 11/13  Trained Spotter
   3 SE North East        7.5   952 AM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   Wattsburg              7.5   737 AM 11/13  Trained Spotter
   3 NE McKean            7.0   700 AM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   Girard                 6.9   700 AM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   3 NW Elgin             6.8   541 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   2 WSW Erie             6.2   600 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   6 SW Erie              6.1   600 AM 11/12  CoCoRaHS
   1 WNW North East       6.0   900 AM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   2 W Avonia             5.8   900 AM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   Erie Intl Airport      5.5   700 PM 11/12  ASOS
   2 NW Edinboro          5.5   501 PM 11/12  Trained Spotter
   2 SSW Corry            3.0   914 AM 11/13  Trained Spotter

&&