Lake County offices are closed Monday and drivers are asked to stay off the roads after a state of emergency was declared in response to heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures from a winter storm. The decision was made late Sunday by Lake County commissioners after lake-effect snow blanketed parts of county.

The Lake County Board of Commissioners held a special meeting Sunday to declare a state of emergency due to the severe winter storm. Emergency Management Director Joseph Busher said this now gives them the ability to work with the county and local communities to share resources,

The Lake County Commissioners declared a State of Emergency in the response to the winter storm affecting the area.

Since it began early Friday morning, the lake effect storm has dumped several feet of snow in some areas. The snow fell at such an unrelenting pace that street crews have been unable to keep pace. Hundreds of holiday travelers were stranded on major highways Friday like i-90 and had to abandon their cars.

The following story features real-time updates as portions of Northeast Ohio are under a Lake Effect Snow Warning until 7 a.m. Tuesday.