'Lake effect' vs. 'Winter storm' do you SNOW the difference?

Lake effect snow, snow from a winter storm, what’s the difference? Absolutely none when it falls to the Earth. The only thing that is different is how the snow is formed. For Lake effect snow, all you need cold air blowing over a warmer water surface (has to be at least a 15 degree difference) for at least 15 miles. The bigger the temperature difference, the more fetch (length the wind travels over the water), and the longer the wind blows in the same direction, the more snow accumulates.

The cold, arctic air will continue to blow today through tomorrow over Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, so warnings are posted for the entire region. I think about 1-2’ is a good bet.

The arctic air extends down to Miami, with a wind chill warning this morning for them. Triple thong weather for South Beach (dress in layers!).

A developing storm for tomorrow is starting to come together in the Southern Planes, and that will spread sleet/freezing rain to the mid MS Valley Wednesday. I’ll have the advisories.

The Pacific NW is getting hammered with more valley rain and mountain snow, flood warnings are still up for the Puget Sound. Dense fog is a problem in San Diego, LA, and low clouds will slow you down at the San Francisco airport. I’ll have all those travel delays on the big, big show.

Later!

Posted by: Meteorologist Bob Van Dillen
Filed under: Weather