Rare Snow Emergency Declared in Cleveland Amid Brutal Winter Storm

Cuyahoga County Sheriff Harold Pretel took the unusual step of issuing a countywide snow emergency as Winter Storm Fern pummeled the region.

Feb. 2, 2026 at 10:07am

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When a brutal winter storm dumped around a foot of snow across Northeast Ohio, Cuyahoga County Sheriff Harold Pretel took the rare step of declaring a countywide snow emergency - something that hadn't been done in the county for decades, if ever. Pretel said the prolonged nature of the storm and hazardous conditions prompted him to issue the Level 1 and later Level 2 emergencies, which gave his warnings more authority and encouraged residents to stay off the roads. While some neighboring counties declined to use the three-tier snow emergency system, Pretel believed the situation warranted the broader declaration.

Why it matters

Snow emergencies are uncommon in the Cleveland area, where residents are accustomed to harsh winters. Pretel's decision to issue a countywide declaration highlights just how severe the conditions were during Winter Storm Fern, which set a new daily snowfall record, closed schools and businesses, and strained road clearing efforts due to a national salt shortage.

The details

Under Ohio law, county sheriffs have the ability to declare snow emergencies ranging from Level 1 advisories to Level 3 road closures. But Cuyahoga County sheriffs have historically avoided such countywide declarations, instead leaving it up to the county's 59 municipalities to designate dangerous road conditions. Pretel wasn't aware of any other county sheriff issuing a snow emergency in recent history - "probably not in the last 50 years for sure." However, the recent storm's duration and intensity, coupled with subzero temperatures and a salt shortage, pushed Pretel to act.

  • On January 25, Pretel declared a Level 1 snow emergency.
  • Later that same day, Pretel elevated the emergency to Level 2 as road conditions deteriorated.
  • Pretel downgraded the emergency back to Level 1 two days later, but kept the caution in place for a couple more days as additional snow and frigid temperatures persisted.
  • The emergency status was lifted mid-afternoon on January 29.

The players

Harold Pretel

The Cuyahoga County Sheriff who declared the rare countywide snow emergency.

Chris Ronayne

The Cuyahoga County Executive who encouraged Pretel to issue the emergency declaration.

Frank Leonbruno

The Lake County Sheriff who faced backlash for declining to issue a snow emergency during the same storm.

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What they’re saying

“I thought it was prudent. I was hoping that by declaring the emergency, it would give the warnings extra attention and encourage residents to stay home.”

— Harold Pretel, Cuyahoga County Sheriff (cleveland.com)

“It is winter in Cleveland, you know.”

— Harold Pretel, Cuyahoga County Sheriff (cleveland.com)

What’s next

Pretel said he would likely issue snow emergencies again for similar severe winter conditions in the future, but stopped short of a Level 3 emergency that would close roads to non-emergency travel.

The takeaway

Pretel's rare countywide snow emergency declaration underscores just how extreme the conditions were during Winter Storm Fern, which overwhelmed the region's typical winter preparedness. The move highlights the challenges county leaders face in balancing public safety with minimizing disruptions to daily life during brutal winter storms.