Understanding Lake‑Effect Snow: How the Great Lakes Make Big Snowstorms
Lake‑effect snow is one of the most intense and localized winter phenomena in the Great Lakes region. When frigid air sweeps over the relatively warm waters of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Erie, and Ontario, it draws up moisture and heat, creating narrow, powerful snow bands. These bands can dump feet of snow in hours, dramatically affecting communities while neighboring areas remain almost untouched. Explore the science behind these snowstorms, why they are so fierce, and how meteorologists forecast their seasonal behavior.