Lake-Effect Snow

Table of Contents☰

About Lake-Effect Snow:

It is a localized weather phenomenon which results from the interaction between cold air passing over warmer lake water generating snow that is deposited in localized regions downwind from the lake.
It is common across the Great Lakes region during the late fall and winter.
Formation
- Lake Effect snow occurs when cold air, often originating from Canada, moves across the open waters of the Great Lakes.
- As the cold air passes over the unfrozen and relatively warm waters of the Great Lakes, warmth and moisture are transferred into the lowest portion of the atmosphere.
- The air rises, clouds form and grow into narrow band that produces 2 to 3 inches of snow per hour or more.
Lake effect snow occurrence and location is mainly dependent on wind (speed and direction) and topography.
For instance, wind direction and speed can affect how narrow or wide a snow band is, as well as its length; whereas topography can influence snowfall rate.

Q1: What is the weather?

It is a state of the atmosphere at a particular place during a short period of time. It involves such atmospheric phenomena as temperature, humidity, precipitation (type and amount), air pressure, wind, and cloud cover.

News: The Lake-Effect Snowstorm Enveloping the Northeast and Midwest: What We Know