Lake Effect Snow Research Paper

Lake-effect snow is a winter weather phenomenon that is generally observed from November to February around the Great Lakes region of the United States. During these events, localized heavy snow falls from snow bands coming off of the lakes increasing the threat to life and property. Billions of taxpayer dollars (NBC News) are spent each year on salt for the roadways in order to keep them clear and prevent hazardous driving conditions. Previous studies have shown that the frequency of lake-effect snow evens gradually declines as the season progresses. This can be attributed to the decrease in the overall water temperature and the formation and spatial coverage of ice on the surface of the lake. Utilizing data from the NOAA National Centers …show more content…
Analyzing and studying certain atmospheric processes that create lake-effect snow have allowed meteorologists to increase their accuracy in predicting the onset, duration, and magnitude of these events. When forecasting for lake-effect snow, meteorologists look at the surface water temperature of the lake and air temperature at 850mb. For snowfall to occur at least a 13°C difference between the two temperatures is normally observed (Niziol 1987). The presence of strong flow with considerable depth in the polar air mass is another ingredient needed for the formation of lake-effect snow. Convection can be limited when there is shallow arctic air. However, with a long lake fetch allowing for more time spent traveling across the lake, the air mass is able to acquire more heat and moisture for producing heavier snow accumulations. When looking at a vertical sounding between the boundary layer and 700mb, the directional wind shear should be less than 60° (Niziol 1987). Also, the wind direction and speed from the boundary layer through 850mb are important for forecasting the location of where the snowfall will occur. The wind direction is important for determining where (inland) the snow will fall and the speed determines how far inland the snow will reach. Lighter winds will keep the majority of the snowfall closer to the lakeshore, whereas stronger winds will push the snow further inland. In some cases, lake-effect snow can occur as far out as the mountains of West Virginia and Long Island, New York (Niziol

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