What is the snow effect in the Great Lakes?

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.



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The heaviest lake-effect snow in the United States falls on the Tug Hill Plateau, south of Watertown, N.Y., at the eastern end of Lake Ontario, making this region one of the snowiest places in the United States. Syracuse, which is south of Tug Hill, is one of the snowiest bigger cities in the United States.

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Lake effect snow is common across the Great Lakes region during the late fall and winter. Lake Effect snow occurs when cold air, often originating from Canada, moves across the open waters of the Great Lakes.

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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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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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Lake temperatures are largely driven by interactions with the atmosphere, so colder air temperatures lead to colder lake temperatures, according to the NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL).

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Lake Erie averages the highest ice cover Of the five Great Lakes, Lake Erie typically reaches the highest annual maximum ice cover, often exceeding 80 percent.

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Lake Michigan is the only Great Lake to have never frozen entirely.

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One memorable storm hit the snowbelt southeast of Lake Huron around London, Ontario in late 1977. During the three-day period from December 7 to 9, lake-effect snow squalls, driven by 100 km/h (60 mph) winds, dropped over 100 cm (39 in) of snow on the region. The snowfall was accentuated by heavy blowing and drifting.

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Lake-effect snow can form on small lakes just as it does in the Great Lakes. Salt Lake City, Fort Worth and Carson City, Nevada have all had bouts of snow from lakes. Inland lake-effect and ocean-effect doesn't just occur in the United States.

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Lake Erie and Ontario average the mid to upper 70s by late summer, because of their shallowness. Lake Superior, of course, comes in last with the peak temperatures in the mid-60s. Here in Michigan we are lucky to have four of the five Great Lakes at easy access.

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Lake Superior's beaches are open and safe for swimming over 90% of the time, and the water is extremely clear, with an average underwater visibility of 8.3 m (27 ft).

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Luckily for people living near large lakes, lake effect snow generally slows down around February. That's when the lakes freeze over, making it impossible for the air to steal moisture away from the lake. Not surprisingly, Buffalo is one of the snowiest cities in the country.

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