Winter weather advisory across the area with significant snowfall predicted for overnight

Many area counties issue snow emergencies; Toledo 4.8 inches from all-time snowfall record

Downtown Toledo resident and business owner Paul Sullivan gets an early start shoveling the sidewalk in front of his architecture office on South St. Clair Street.

Several northwest Ohio counties late today issued snow emergencies just as snow started to fall in the area.

Fulton, Henry, Lucas, and Williams counties are under a Level 2 snow emergency.

A Level 2 means roads might be treacherous and drivers are warned to be careful.

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Snowfall was expected to mostly stop by midnight, and the sheriff is planning to head out on the roads to see how traffic is moving.

Defiance, Hancock, Ottawa, Putnam, Sandusky, Seneca, and Wood counties also are at a Level 1 snow emergency. Fulton and Henry counties are at a Level 2 snow emergency, which means only those who feel it is necessary should be driving.

The Monroe County Road Commission in Michigan also issued a Level 1 travel advisory which was effective at 7:30 p.m.

A winter weather advisory for Toledo went into effect at rush hour today.

The advisory started at 5 p.m. and will continue until 4 a.m. Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.

More snow -- measuring three to five inches -- is possible before 3 a.m.

Tuesday is expected to bring sunny skies and a high temperature near 36 degrees.

The Ohio Department of Transportation readied for the storm by starting 12-hour shifts at noon for many of its garages around the region. More than 100 plow trucks will be inspected and salt trucks loaded this afternoon, according to an ODOT District Two news release.

Crews will plow state and federal routes during heavy snowfall, but road conditions are expected to improve Tuesday as warmer temperatures move in.

More snow would inch Toledo closer to the all-time snowfall record of 73.1 inches in 1977-78. Presently, 68.3 inches of snow has fallen this season.