Land of lake effect

[dodge man]

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Not the greatest picture. This is looking down the road at the end of my driveway. It was roughly 20 inches of snow but hard to say, it drifted badly. On the right side of my picture it’s about 6 feet deep in the road. That’s about as bad as gets around here. It’s just a skiff of snow for some of you. Arly plays in this stuff for fun. This was about 10 years ago.

 

[KennyG]

Lake Effect is a really strange thing. For a number of years I lived essentially on Lake Michigan. We didn't get much snow. For some reason, it would skip over the shoreline itself and the heavy "lake effect" would start a mile or 15 miles from the lake. Now I live a few miles from the lake and have more snow to play with.

 

[Rustyiron]

All I'm hearing on the radio all day is this upcoming 6' in Buffalo. (tonight? )

 

[dodge man]

They moved the nfl game to Detroit.

 

[groundcover]

Need one of these babies !

 

[ArlyA]

This is what our city uses and seen on our street. They have more than one but of course, we don't get real snow amounts like Buffalo gets.

 

[Keweenaw County Yooper]

One of the blowers we use at the Houghton County Airport.

 

[deezler]

Lake Effect is a really strange thing. For a number of years I lived essentially on Lake Michigan. We didn't get much snow. For some reason, it would skip over the shoreline itself and the heavy "lake effect" would start a mile or 15 miles from the lake. Now I live a few miles from the lake and have more snow to play with.

That seems pretty common off lower Michigan; must be the updraft off the lake is continuing as the winds slam into the shore? It takes a certain length of "fetch" across the lake to get the snow machine going. Sometimes it stays above freezing on the shoreline too, with the strong onshore breezes keeping things closer to the lake's water temp. Lake effect rain is occasionally a thing, too.

Right now the air blowing up at 5000 ft is some 45-50 degrees colder than the lake surface temps! The recipe for 5 feet of snow in buffalo. Arly must be so jealous.

 

[Rustyiron]

So whose in the Buffalo area and can drop some action pictures here a few times over the duration?

 

[nyone]

Figured you might not be able to resist chiming in with some snark, lol.
First of all 230” is absolutely in the higher end of annual snow totals.
Second, buffalo has a low annual average because they do not get consistent, continuous lake-effect like you often do. But i dont recall houghton ever getting a 5 or 6 foot dump in a two day event. You dont have the long lake “fetch” or warmer water temps of lake erie. When cold air blows hard in just the right direction in November, Buffalo gets effect dumpage like you can only dream of (in reality, its a life threatening danger).

You also have to remember buffalo and alot of western NY will get lake effect until the lake freezes. Some years it dosnt and some it does. So the average snowfall of 80-90in may only happen in early and late winter. They may get nothing in jan/Feb.

I use to live in the area for a few years. It sucks, always gray, raining or snowing. One day I saw the sun, snow and thunder all at once.

 

[ArlyA]

Lake Effect is a really strange thing. For a number of years I lived essentially on Lake Michigan. We didn't get much snow. For some reason, it would skip over the shoreline itself and the heavy "lake effect" would start a mile or 15 miles from the lake. Now I live a few miles from the lake and have more snow to play with.

Its not THAT strange. NOAA's description is below and does a pretty good job at subscribing it. It does not happen on lake shores.

Winter Resources
Snow Safety and LinksNor' eastersIce StormsLake Effect SnowGround BlizzardsAvalanchesSnow SquallExtreme Cold/Wind ChillForecasts and ObservationsEducation, Outreach, FAQsLinks and Partners​

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. 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.
Wind direction is a key component in determining which areas will receive lake effect snow. Heavy snow may be falling in one location, while the sun may be shining just a mile or two away in either direction. The physical geography of the land and water is also important. National Weather Service meteorologists consider these factors as well as others when forecasting lake effect snow.

 

[ruffdog]

It is something how it can dump one one area and miss another nearby.

 

[ArlyA]

It is something how it can dump one one area and miss another nearby.

If you read what I posted and copied from NOAA, it states the answer to your question.

 

[deezler]

Passing 5 feet already! I think we’re gonna see 7+ feet of snow in spots. What are the all time 48hour records? This is nuts.

Regularly Warmer lake water temps in fall , combined with more polar vortex instability could make events like this more common in years to come. Wild!

The thunder and lightning was coming every couple minutes at times. There’s even reports of waterspouts (tornadoes) made of snow on lake erie. Insane!

Saw a video just now of buried cars on i90 after everything came to a standstill. Why the heck was the highway open?!!?!

 

[cqaigy2]

Whew, no lake effect getting to Washington state.