Lake Effect Snow

Lake Effect Snow

Lake effect snow is a weather event that is very common in Northwestern New York. It occurs when a cold, dry air mass, usually from Canada, moves over a warm, wet body of water. The air absorbs moisture from the water. As the clouds move downwind and onto land, the moisture is emptied as snow.

(A map of average snowfall in New York)


In New York, these air masses come from Canada, move across the Great Lakes, and dump huge amounts of snow on cities such as Rochester and Buffalo, giving them more snowfall then almost any other place in the country.

(incredible amounts of snow in Northwestern New York)

Sources:
Earth Science, Tenth Edition
Picture Sources:
Pic #1: www.erh.noaa.gov/er/buf/lakeffect/snwseas.gif
Pic #2: http://www.jeffsweather.com/archives/2007/02/lake_effect_sno_2.html