Lake-Effect Snow Moving Over the Great Lakes

news image
Special Stories
2 Nov 2020 7:00 AM
Cold air plunging southward from Canada into the northern parts of the nation, coupled with the a fast moving clipper-type low pressure center, is bringing snow showers to the Great Lakes. A surface front made it's way over the region this weekend, bringing in some snowfall reports out of Wisconsin Sunday. Winter Weather Alerts have been issued for the lake effect snow for areas downstream 0f Lake Ontario and Lake Erie into Tuesday. Enhanced bands may bring several inches of snow.

Lake-Effect Snow Forecast

As shown below, water temperatures in the Great Lakes are warmer than the air temperature. This leads to the development of lake effect snow showers. An additional wave of energy, along with a low pressure system, are diving south. This will produce lake effect snow from Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. The first wave will come with the fast moving low pressure center. A few lake effect snow bands will develop behind the low into Tuesday.

Accumulation

In the Northeast, accumulations of snow are expected to be light to moderate for most areas. A few spots could see over 6 inches by Tuesday morning, mostly from lake effect snow east of Lake Ontario in Upstate New York. Higher elevation areas in Northern New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine could also see snow totals of 4 to 6 inches in some locations. Check this story for updates as additional details become available. Our live streams and on-air broadcasts always have the latest alerts scrolling at the bottom of the screen.
All Weather News
More
Severe Storms make a Weekend Comeback to the Ohio Valley

Severe Storms make a Weekend Comeback to the Ohio Valley

A series of systems moving across the Norther

20 Mar 2026 7:00 PM
Flash Flood Emergency for O'ahu, Additional Rain Expected for Hawaii

Flash Flood Emergency for O'ahu, Additional Rain Expected for Hawaii

After record shattering rain and hurricane fo

20 Mar 2026 5:55 PM
Peak Cherry Blossom Forecast Released for 2026

Peak Cherry Blossom Forecast Released for 2026

Top Image Credit: National Parks ServiceSprin

20 Mar 2026 5:10 PM
Records Obliterated - Extreme March Heatwave Bakes the West

Records Obliterated - Extreme March Heatwave Bakes the West

WEST - Heatwave would be putting this stretch

20 Mar 2026 4:50 PM
Clippers Keep the Great Lakes and Northeast Gusty, Cooler

Clippers Keep the Great Lakes and Northeast Gusty, Cooler

It wouldn't be March without a good ol' fashi

20 Mar 2026 1:45 PM
Morrill Fire - Largest in Nebraska State History

Morrill Fire - Largest in Nebraska State History

NEBRASKA - On Thursday, March 12th, a vegetat

20 Mar 2026 9:35 AM
Atmospheric River Aims at the Northwest

Atmospheric River Aims at the Northwest

High pressure is calling the shots, once agai

20 Mar 2026 2:00 AM