Lake-Effect (and Pond-Effect) Snow

The lake-effect snow machine in full gear today as frigid Arctic air continues to stream over the open waters of the Great Lakes.

Surface temperature (left) and winds (right) at 11:00 EST

Regional radar at 11:21 EST

Visible satellite at 11:02 EST

Up to 6 inches of snow has fallen in southwestern Michigan, with another 1 to 3 inches expected today. Up to 15 inches of snow is possible in the western Michigan Upper Peninsula. In western New York a  Lake Effect Snow Warning is in effect until 10:00 EST Wednesday morning.  Six to 12 inches of snow are expected today, 6 to 12 tonight, and another 1 to 2 inches on Wednesday. This is on top of 12 to 18 inches in some areas as of this morning. A CoCoRaHS observer in Chautauqua County (NY-CQ-19, Ripley 4.3 SSW) had a 24-hour total of 18 inches this morning, with most of it falling before 7:00 p.m.last night. A Lake Effect Snow Warning is also in effect for northeastern Ohio, where one to three feet of snow may accumulate in the more persistent snow bands.

"Lake-effect" snow resulting from cold air streaming over smaller water bodies can occur as well. Snow bands developed downwind of a number of power plant cooling ponds in northern Illinois this morning.