A new study from Hobart and William Smith Colleges (HWS) is uncovering the broader patterns of lake-effect snowstorms impacting the entire Great Lakes region. Led by Professor Neil Laird and Caitlin Crossett, an atmospheric sciences assistant professor at UNC Asheville, the research examines lake-effect weather from the late 1990s to recent years, as part of a National Science Foundation project.
The findings, published in the Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, reveal that snow bands often extend from one lake to another, enhancing snowfall when all five lakes experience lake-effect snow simultaneously. This pattern suggests a significant influence of regional weather systems on snowfall distribution.
Nearly one-third of lake-effect snow bands occurred on days when all five lakes were active, though their frequency has decreased since 2008. The study’s insights could aid forecasters in predicting these widespread snow events, benefiting communities across the region.
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