Can Chicago get lake-effect snow?

Lake-effect snow is a frequent contributor to our seasonal snowfall in Chicago and with Lake Michigan almost ice free, the lake-effect snow machine is open for business provided a cold wind is blowing in our favor in the right direction. Nearly 93% of the Great Lakes does not have significant ice cover.



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You may know that Lake Michigan serves as a moderating factor to Chicago weather — cooler near the lake in the summer, warmer near the lake in the winter.

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Lake Ontario and Lake Erie Snowbelts The region east and southeast of Lake Ontario frequently sees daily snowfall totals that are higher than anywhere in the United States. Syracuse, New York, receives significant lake-effect snow from Lake Ontario, averaging 116 inches (294 cm) of snow per year.

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Lake effect snow is most often associated with the Great Lakes region of the United States. However, there are at least two other places where this phenomenon also occurs: the east shore of Hudson Bay in Canada and the west coasts of the islands of Honshu and Hokkaido off of Japan.

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Syracuse, New York, directly south of the Tug Hill Plateau, receives significant lake-effect snow from Lake Ontario, and averages 115.6 inches (294 cm) of snow per year, which is enough snowfall to be considered one of the snowiest large cities in America.

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  • Western Michigan, Northwestern Lower Michigan, and Northern Indiana can experience heavy lake-effect snow. ...
  • The region east and southeast of Lake Ontario frequently sees daily snowfall totals that are higher than anywhere in the United States.


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Anywhere! Lake effect snow can occur over any unfrozen body of water where the fetch is long enough to gather enough moisture to create snow. Lake effect snow can occur over Lake Tahoe, the Great Salt Lake, the finger lakes, and even has been reported over rivers in the Midwest!

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Flood risk in Chicago, IL Climate change is increasing inland and coastal flooding risk due to sea level rise and increasing chances of extreme precipitation.

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FOX Weather winter storm specialist Tom Niziol explains why Buffalo will see significant snowfall from this historic snowstorm. Once a lake freezes over, the source of warmth and moisture is lost, making it much more difficult for lake-effect snow to develop.

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