In the Lea of The Lake

Michael Soldan · Dec 14, 2020

Many people do not understand this term but anyone on the lea side of the winds off the Great Lakes will know. At this time of year the lake water is warm relative to the cold winds that blow across it. These winds pick up moisture off the Lake and when the winds carry that moisture inland the cold land causes condensation and snow ! I am in the lea of Lake Huron in southern Ontario and it is not uncommon to go to bed and wake up with two feet of snow. NY State gets it off Lake Ontario. When you hear the possibility of snow in the lea of the lake you know you are likely in for it.

300jk · Dec 14, 2020

On the east side of Lake Erie. Know all about that and lake effect snow !

Mike(NEOhio) · Dec 14, 2020

Yup, same here.

Absent Minded Farmer · Dec 14, 2020

Yes, we often end up in the lee or downwind path of the lake effect from Michigan. Usually a heavy wet snow, not unlike our recent snowfall. However, the lake kept our temps relatively warm for most of the storm. About 10 mi. inland from us, there were reports of 6"-8". Might have gotten 2" here. The rest was rain.

Mike

john in la · Dec 14, 2020

Around here we don’t use that term for the body of water. We use it for the land.

The leeward side is the protected side where the wind is blowing off the land onto the water.

The windward side is where the wind is blowing off the water onto the land.

Lake effect snow and bigger waves can be expected on the windward side of a lake.

Janicholson · Dec 14, 2020

I've seen 8 feet and 50 foot drifts off of Erie, and 6 footers off of Michigan It is serious business. Jim

jd man wis · Dec 14, 2020

When I use to drive semi I would go across on 2 in Michigan to the Mac bridge and on the way over on to the weather was nice then to go across the bridge on 75 a guy could see the storm of snow that a guy was going to run in to. I learned on how to drive in the snow with a big truck by seen if it was a dry snow,wet snow or the kind that get real slick and you are better to get off the road. I wasn't so much worried about me and the truck as the others that didn't slow down or might slide in to the truck. If I was on the wset side of the state it seemed like once across the bridge making deliverys the snow at times it seem to be piling up like 2 inchs a hour.

CH(upstate,NY) · Dec 14, 2020

This snow subject came up a few days ago. 39 years of driving or sitting on I81 while they cleared overturned semis. Maybe getting a room in Watertown or Potsdam because the interstate was closed. A few years ago the Lake Effect band sat over my property from the end of December until the middle of February. Had to plow at least once every day. Ran out of room to put the snow.

David G · Dec 14, 2020

I spent two winters in Buffalo, know what you mean, the snowfall also tends to increase as altitude rises away from the lake.

dpendzic · Dec 14, 2020

some of those lake effect squalls make there way to Massachusetts and then the Taconic Range drops a lot of snow from them

Bob M · Dec 14, 2020

I'm south of Lake Ontario - heavy lake effect snow is pretty much the norm here until the lake waters cool off. And if the wind is strong from the NW we even see lake effect snow off Georgian Bay.

Wheat47 · Dec 14, 2020

A number of years ago, I ordered a crane magnet from a firm in Buffalo, NY.
I chatted with the guy, getting all the information and such correct.
Then he said, "I hope you don't need that in the next day or so?"
I asked why and he responded, "We got a lake effect snow. We got 12 feet
of snow last night! We know where it is, we just gotta find it in the yard."
I told him I'd heard that on the news, and to let me know when was shipped.

Charlie M · Dec 14, 2020

I saw a picture once of the wind picking up water from lake Erie - looked like a vacuum sucking up a wall of water. That got dumped on somebody as snow. Here a bit west of Rochester its possible to get snow off both lake Erie and Ontario also not much normally makes it this far from Erie which would have to travel north east. A little south of us gets a lot more from Erie. With lake affect snow around here you can have nothing and the guy a mile down the road is in the middle of a blizzard.

CH(upstate,NY) · Dec 14, 2020

I believe it. My camp in the Southern Adirondacks is right in line.

SparepartsTN · Dec 14, 2020

Back in 1973/74 I was pulling reefers out of Iowa to NYC and Washington, D.C. loaded with swinging meat. One of the company trucks was broke down in Buffalo so I had a spare transmission tied down behind the cab to deliver there. Early winter, it was cold and dry until I turned north and saw a sign that said Buffalo city limits, that is where the snow started, right at the sign. The further in I went the worse it got, delivered the transmission, dodged sliding cars and headed east, the further I went the less snow until I saw a sign that said Buffalo city limits and the snow stopped at the sign. At the time I figured God must really hate somebody there and I never went back.

RayP(MI) · Dec 14, 2020

We are in west Michigan. Get a bunch of "lake effect" snow every season off Lake Michigan. From time to time, we have even gotten it off lake Huron when conditions are just right.

John in Mich · Dec 14, 2020

Two years ago, I pulled my 16' tandem axle on I-94 from my house across Michigan and then dropped to South Bend, Ind, going to look at, and hopefully buy, a tractor. I hit lake effect snow near Battle Creek, Michigan and highway speeds dropped to about 45 mph. I felt the truck get loose a couple of times. When I got into Indiana, the sun was shining!
I did not buy the tractor, but, on the way home I decided to pay the tolls for the turnpike and stay in the sun. About $30 to get to Toledo.
The next day I was at lunch with a number of fellow GM retirees and one of the guys had driven I-94 the day before from Chicago. He said it was treacherous! He did not believe me that I drove the turnpike in the sunshine.

centash · Dec 14, 2020

The amount of lake effect snow is to a point dependant on the distance the wind crosses open water before it makes landfall. Where I live, some 40 miles north of Michael, a north west wind crosses over 150 miles of lake, whereas a bit further south, it would only cross 40 miles. But, a north wind would have little effect on me, but really dump a lot of snow south of me. Remember when the 402 was closed and the armed forces had to rescue stranded drivers a number of years ago? Lake effect snow can be unpredictable since several factors come into play which determine the amount of snow possible.

Ben

Bruce from Can. · Dec 14, 2020

I live 50 miles north of Lake Ontario, and that lake has little effect on us, with prevailing northwest winds. And lake Simcoe, which is only about 15 miles to our west, acts as a buffer for us. Protecting us from the lake effect snow that comes of of Georgian Bay, that is until we’ll into January, and Simcoe freezes over. Although Lake Simcoe will some years not freeze over completely, as long as it is open it seems to split the snow storms. The west side of Lake Simcoe and North end get hammered with snow off Georgian Bay/Lake Huron. Southwest winds bring us the most snow.

Paul from MI · Dec 14, 2020

Lucky us here in Branch County. We're just far enough from lake Michigan that the lake effect snow stops about 40 miles west of us--MOST OF THE TIME.

1946 BN IHC · Dec 15, 2020

Thank you fellows for reminding me That I have spent a large part of my life with in 5 miles of the lea side of Lake Huron. first near Sarnia [ 20 miles east of there] then near Goderich. Yes I remember lake affect snow storms that piled up snow from 1 to 5 inches per hour and high drifts. Now living 20 minutes east of London we see less snow in large amounts, yet we are always prepared for it. Living in a camp grounds and with older neighbours I take the 46 inch walk behind and keep them cleared out.
Merry Christmas to all and may you have a pleasant New Year. God bless and Keep all of you.
Wm. E. J. Thamesford. Ont. Ca.

Blackhole49 · Dec 15, 2020

The commonly accepted 24 hour snowfall record for the USA is 75.8 inches in Silver Lake CO on 4-14/15 1921 according to Weather Underground.

Vicinalvictor · Dec 15, 2020

Lake Michigan can have a huge impact on the weather here in West Michigan. It can cause lake effect rain and snow, keep temperatures more moderate in the summer, fall and winter, and prevent tornadoes from touching down. The aesthetic beauty it offers year around is outstanding.

showcrop · Dec 15, 2020

Lakes don't have a Lee, they generate lake effect. As John LA said land bodies and ships have lee.

Bret4207 · Dec 16, 2020

East of Ontario, just within the lake effect belt...sometimes. It can be a bear.

jaoneill · Dec 16, 2020

I am a few miles NE of Bret and usually the lake effect off Ontario goes through 10-12 miles SW of us but there have been times.......

In the Lea of The Lake

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