Will Lake Effect Snow Ever Stop? Doesn’t Look Likely

The Great Lakes have been producing epic snows. Upwards of 4 feet of snow has fallen in just 3 days near Erie, PA

The 7 AM snow observation at Erie International Airport was 1.3" of new snow since midnight. The 3+ day total since snow began after 7 PM Christmas Eve is 63.8" of snow. #pawx

— NWS Cleveland (@NWSCLE) December 27, 2017

The Great Lakes are a huge source of annual snowfall across the region each year but once the Great Lakes freeze over…the machine turns off. The Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) monitors the progression and recession of the ice cover on each of the Great Lakes every year. As of  December 27, 2017 the ice coverage in the Great Lakes is growing.

However, water temperatures are still sitting in the upper 30s to lower to mid 40s which is keeping them from completely freezing.

This year the GLERL are forecast that the Lakes will NOT freeze over which means that lake effect snow could be a possibility this entire winter season.

With more epic cold in the forecast, the forecast for upcoming ice coverage may need to be adjusted but for now, anticipate no chance.

After what has already been an epic start to the snow season for some, it looks like we have a long road ahead of us. Stay tuned to WeatherNation on air and online at WeatherNationTV.com for more on this continuing winter season.

For WeatherNation: Meteorologist Andy Stein