Lake-Effect Snow

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

‹ ›