Lake Effect Snow Brings Thanksgiving Travel Chaos to Great Lakes Region
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Residents in the Great Lakes region are bracing for a winter wonderland this Thanksgiving, with a powerful weather system dumping heavy snowfall across the area. The snow began falling on Wednesday and continued on Thursday, with winds and snow bands causing hazardous travel conditions. In Alger County, Michigan, a blizzard warning remains in effect until 7 p.m. Thursday, with the National Weather Service predicting up to 13 inches of additional snow accumulation in western areas. Meteorologists say lake effect snow, characterized by narrow bands of clouds producing heavy snowfall, is to blame for the extreme weather. This phenomenon occurs when cold Canadian air is blown over the warmer waters of the Great Lakes, causing moisture to rise into a snow-producing zone. The result can be snowfall rates of up to 2-3 inches per hour. Areas in Michigan, Ohio, and New York are particularly affected, but lake effect snow can also occur over other large bodies of water. In one location near Montreal, Wisconsin, over 33 inches of snow were reported early Thursday morning. The combination of lake effect snow and terrain elevation in this area created a perfect storm for heavy snowfall. Travelers are advised to exercise caution, as sudden and extreme whiteouts can cause hazardous driving conditions. Strong winds of up to 45 mph also pose a threat of creating large snow drifts and power outages. Over 1,000 power outages were reported in Houghton, Michigan, and similar issues were reported near Holland, Michigan. The weather is expected to ease west to east on Friday, but a less severe system is forecasted to drop additional snow on the Upper Peninsula over the weekend. Residents in Buffalo, New York, reported 2-3 inches of snow on Thanksgiving morning, with a lake effect snow warning in effect until early Saturday morning.
