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The winter of 2008-2009 will be remembered for being cold and unusually wet, especially in northern Ohio. Snowfall totals for the winter were above normal across all of northern Ohio and much above normal in the lake effect snow belt east of Cleveland. In southern Ohio, seasonal totals were generally a little below normal. A peak snowfall total of nearly 175 inches was reported in Geauga County. Cleveland, Mansfield and Youngstown finished with snow totals ranked in the top ten snowiest winters ever. January brought dangerous wind chills and the coldest temperatures recorded in 15 years.
The winter season got off to an early start with light snow falling in northern Ohio on October 27th and 28th. A couple fast moving storm systems brought more light snow to northern Ohio in November. At least four separate rounds of lake effect snow occurred during the month as well. Temperatures during November averaged around two degrees below normal.
The first half of the winter was active with numerous storm systems bringing light snow and mixed precipitation. February and March were quiet in comparison. The bulk of significant winter weather occurred in December and January.
The first significant event in December occurred on the 19th with freezing rain accumulating from ¼” to ½” across northwest, north central, central, and northeast Ohio. Lake effect snows in northeast Ohio on the 21st and 22nd produced amounts over 12 inches. High winds and a few severe thunderstorms were reported toward the end of December. Downed trees and scattered power outages resulted from these storms.
The most significant winter weather was in January, with very heavy snow falling across the northern third of Ohio on the 10th with 8 to 14 inches of snowfall, while more than ¼” of ice fell north of Interstate 70 in central and western Ohio.
Some of the coldest temperature readings since 1994 were recorded across the state January 15-18, with wind chill readings of -25 degrees F or lower across many locations. Low temperatures reached -10 degrees over much of the state, with some usually colder spots reporting readings more than -20 degrees. The majority of Ohio schools were closed on January 15 and 16. Weather observers in Knox County reported lows of -28 degrees and -29 degrees on January 17. Temperatures in January averaged at lease six degrees below normal across the northern half of the state and 4-6 degrees below normal in the south.
A major storm on January 27 and 28 produced 6-14 inches of snow generally along and west of Interstate 71, extending into eastern Ohio along and north of the Turnpike. Areas between the Turnpike and the Ohio River in eastern Ohio had freezing rain accumulate more than ¼”, with snow and sleet accumulations up to 6 inches.
In February, a narrow band of heavy snow set up near Cincinnati with 5-8 inches of snow falling mainly east of the city.
A high wind event occurred on February 11 across the state, combined with a powerful cold front. Winds along and behind the front gusted stronger than 60 mph in most locations with isolated gusts to 70 mph reported. Trees and power lines were reported down from these winds.
Lake effects snow activity during February and March was minimal. This lack of activity can be attributed to the fact that Lake Erie was mostly frozen mid-January through mid-March.