Another Round of Snow Hammers Lakewood — Schools Closed, Parking Ban Issued and Buses Delayed

Snowmageddon, Snowpocalypse and Snowzilla.

Call it whatever you want. But it's not pretty out there.

Several inches of the white stuff has already been dumped on Lakewood — slowing traffic, closing schools (and both libraries) and canceling activities.

All schools in Lakewood — including St. Edward High School — are closed and other school-related activities are also grinded to a halt.

The storm is expected to continue throughout the day.

As of 10:30 a.m. there were only a few minor traffic incidents in the city. Lakewood Police Chief Timothy Malley said that most of the calls in the city are not for crashes — but for people getting stuck.

“I guess people have to get out,” he said. “Stay home for a while until the streets are cleared. People need to give time for the snow to stop and the plows to catch up. If you’ve got to drive, just take it slow and take your cell phone with you.”

According to the National Weather Service, Lakewood is still under a winter storm warning until 4 p.m. today.

The city of Lakewood issued a parking ban, in effect throughout the day. Residents need to move their cars off of posted emergency snow ban streets during heavy snow so streets can be plowed. The streets are the main thoroughfares in the city — including Lake, Clifton, Detroit, Madison, Lakewood Heights Boulevard, Riverside Drive, Hilliard, Warren and Bunts.  A complete list is available online.  

Cars that are in violation of the parking ban may be towed.

Shoveling snow in the driveway of his Ramona Avenue home, an exhausted Matt Somich said he'd had enough. His plans to drive to Pittsburgh were postponed — at least until later in the afternoon.

"When is winter going to end?" he said.

As of 6 a.m., the Cleveland TV stations were reporting more than 400 closings of schools and businesses throughout Northeast Ohio.

Mary McCahon, the RTA spokeswoman, said people taking public transportation should expect delays.

"(Our) biggest concern is the drifting and blowing snow and waiting for plows to clear roads," she said. "We are doing our best to get passengers to the destination safely — we know delays will continue as long as the snow continues."

Are you staying home today?