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
Julio Forms, Still Multiple Waves in the Pacific

Julio Forms, Still Multiple Waves in the Pacific

JULIO & ISELLETropical Storm Julio formed

25 Aug 2026 6:40 PM
Ross Fire Burning West of Fort Worth

Ross Fire Burning West of Fort Worth

A wildfire broke out in the Lone Star State o

25 Aug 2026 6:20 PM
Rounds of Storms for the Southeast

Rounds of Storms for the Southeast

In addition to the hot temperatures across th

25 Aug 2026 6:00 PM
Significant Winds and Hail Possible for the Plains

Significant Winds and Hail Possible for the Plains

Strong storms rolled through the High Plains

25 Aug 2026 5:25 PM
Atlantic Tropics: Two Areas of Investigation

Atlantic Tropics: Two Areas of Investigation

El Niño has been smothering tropical waves in

25 Aug 2026 2:00 PM
Extreme Heat Returns to Los Angeles and the Southwest

Extreme Heat Returns to Los Angeles and the Southwest

High pressure has returned to the Southwest.

25 Aug 2026 10:00 AM
Stifling Heat Holds Steady for Southern U.S.

Stifling Heat Holds Steady for Southern U.S.

Record heat rolls on across the Lone Star Sta

24 Aug 2026 12:30 PM