During a winter visit to Cleveland visitors need to be aware that frosty squalls can strike rather suddenly.

Visit Cleveland in winter and there’s a good chance you’ll hear locals talking about something called the "lake effect," which usually means that all or part of the metropolitan area is getting buried in snow while nary a flake is falling elsewhere in Ohio.

Without getting into meteorological technicalities, visitors simply need to be aware that these frosty squalls can strike rather suddenly, leading to unexpected airport delays and treacherous driving conditions. And while the greatest chance of snow is in December, January and February, significant snowfall is not unusual in late fall or early spring. The best advice is to come equipped for unpredictable weather, keep your sense of humor handy when the airport gets backed up, and drive with caution when the roads get slippery.

Proximity to Lake Erie does have its benefits, however. When sweltering summer weather blankets the upper Midwest, cool breezes blowing off the lake can bring relatively pleasant conditions along the waterfront.