Erie County is under a disaster emergency, the city has enacted a snow emergency and PennDOT has restrictions on parts of interstates, 79, 90 and 86.

The snow emergency that has closed schools, businesses and government buildings throughout Erie County as flakes continue to fall on feet already on the ground hasn't slowed the workload for area first responders.

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.

A lake-effect snow warning remains in place for Erie County through Tuesday, and a lot more snow could fall across Erie County by then.

In late fall and winter, lake-effect snow is a common occurrence in the Great Lakes region. "Lake-effect snow occurs when cold air, often originating from Canada, moves across the open waters of the Great Lakes.

Up to 18 inches of snow could fall across Northeast Ohio as the National Weather Service issues a lake effect snow warning through Tuesday morning. The National Weather Service warning for Cuyahoga, Lake,

Lake-effect snow will continue to blanket the Great Lakes snowbelts into late week after some areas were buried by feet of snow over Thanksgiving holiday weekend. H​appening now: The radar below shows areas of snow are still going on now,