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Lake-Effect Snow

Lake-Effect Snow. A “ Fair weather” event Occurs after the passage of a mid-latitude cyclone Areas downwind of relatively warm lakes can receive *incredibly heavy snow * while nearby areas have improving weather. Up on the roof!. Where is my car?. Snowed in!.

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Lake-Effect Snow

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  1. Lake-Effect Snow • A “Fair weather” event • Occurs after the passage of a mid-latitude cyclone • Areas downwind of relativelywarm lakes can receive *incredibly heavy snow* while nearby areas have improving weather

  2. Up on the roof!

  3. Where is my car?

  4. Snowed in!

  5. Ten foot Wall of Snow, ‘77

  6. Up on the roof again ‘77

  7. Sea of snow and cars, ‘77

  8. Average Temps: Lake Vs. Air Unstable season

  9. LAKE EFFECT: Conceptual Model Green/Red arrows?

  10. LAKE EFFECT: Conceptual Model Snow intensity: Factors? How cold is air? (Temp. diff Lake to Air) How deep is cold air? How long is air over lake (fetch)?

  11. LAKE EFFECT: Conceptual Model <-North South-> Narrow bands of heavy snow 2-20 miles wide, 50-250 miles long

  12. SEASONAL SNOWFALL

  13. PA Average Annual Snowfall 92” 120” 50” 65” 47” 5” 19” 41” 0” 10” Red number is amount that’s lake-effect snow

  14. TERRAIN AND PRECIPITATION

  15. LAKE EFFECT: Conceptual Model

  16. LAKE-EFFECT SNOW “LONG FETCH” Bands oriented parallel to the mean wind from sfc to 850mb

  17. LAKE-EFFECT SNOW “SHORT FETCH” Bands oriented parallel to the mean wind from sfc to 850mb

  18. LAKE-EFFECT SNOW: WESTERLY WIND MULTIPLE BANDS SINGLE BAND Short fetch Long fetch COLD AIR Bands oriented parallel to the mean wind from sfc to 850mb

  19. LAKE-EFFECT SNOW: NORTHWEST WIND COLD AIR Bands oriented parallel to the mean wind from sfc to 850mb

  20. Great Lake Snow Bands

  21. Great Lake Snow Bands?

  22. Great Lake Snow Bands?

  23. Great Lake Snow Bands?

  24. Great Lake Snow Bands

  25. LAKE-EFFECT SNOW BAND

  26. CURTAIN OF DEATH!!!

  27. LAKE-EFFECT SNOW

  28. Lake-Effect Snow • Location wind direction/speed • Intensity • Stability • Tlake-T850mb>13C, less if synoptic support • Larger the difference, generally heavier the snow • Depth of cold air … consult mr. sounding! Deeper cold air  Deeper cloud  Heavier snow! • Fetch • Longer distance/time  more modification  heavier snow • Need ~40 mi. of fetch, over 120mi.can bring intense snows • Single bands vs. multiple bands • Wind Shear • Little or no directional shear  heavier snow • Topography • Upslope regions favored for heavier snow • Best events have synoptic-scale support • Approaching 500mb shortwave • “lifts inversion” ->> deeper convection • 700mb RH >70% …. Good indicator of synoptic support • Right conditions can bring >3”/hour rates !!! • Distance inland: multiply 850mb wind speed by ~1.5

  29. Where else does LE occur?

  30. CLASSIC “BIG” LAKE EFFECT: Surface pattern Cold Advection Canadian High - cp, Arctic air * TLAKE-T850mb>=13C -”general” rule * Occurs if -8 to -12 C diff. in certain situations

  31. CLASSIC “BIG” LAKE EFFECT: Surface pattern

  32. CLASSIC “BIG” LAKE EFFECT: 500mb pattern 500mb Pattern

  33. LAKE EFFECT with Synoptic Support High RH is a good indicator of “Synoptic” support

  34. Buffalo Snow: Christmas 2001

  35. Buffalo Snow: Christmas 2001

  36. Buffalo Snow: Christmas 2001

  37. Lake-Effect?

  38. Lake-effect?

  39. WINTER WX: LAKE EFFECT • IMPORTANT ELEMENTS: • Caused by cold air over warm lake (* Tlake-T850mb>13C) • * less if synoptic support • 850mb T’s < -7C, If warmer -> rain • Bands // to mean wind from sfc to 850mb • Longer fetch -> more intense the snow • Need ~40 mi. of fetch, over 120mi.can bring intense snows • Single bands: more intense, wind // to long axis of lake • Multiple bands: less intense, wind // to shorter axis of lake • Low vertical wind shear is favorable • Best events have synoptic-scale support • Approaching 500mb shortwave • “lifts inversion” ->> deeper convection • 700mb RH >70% …. Good indicator of synoptic support • Right conditions can bring >3”/hour rates !!! • Distance inland: multiply 850mb wind speed by ~1.5

  40. Lake effect: NGM model

  41. Lake effect: ETA coarse model

  42. Lake effect: ETA fine res

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