The National Weather Service in Cleveland's lake-effect snow warning for Erie County extends until Friday at 7 a.m. The weather service notes that travel could be difficult at times, and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has activated vehicle restrictions on interstates in northwestern Pennsylvania.

For the lake to freeze, temperatures need to be consistently cold, so the surface temperature of Lake Erie can drop to the mid-30s. Right now, some of the shallow waters near Sandusky have reached that range, but the water near Cleveland is still in the 40-degree range.

Lake-effect snow occurs when the water temperatures of the lake are warmer than the air temperatures that blow above it, according to the National Weather Service.

Northern communities along the snowbelt are still digging out after multiple days of lake-effect snow. Now, more lake-effect snow is on the way as well as a more widespread burst of snow that will

"It's horrifying that we're still talking about this a decade after these abuses began to be identified." Residents in California reported seeing Christmas ornaments sway on trees Winter is coming and metro Detroit is in the crosshairs of another band of lake effect snow this week.