Different districts of the state of New York (USA) have been buried for several days by what is known as a “lake effect” snowfall. A phenomenon that, although it is always impressive to see, is very common in this area of the North American country.
Oswego, Buffalo, Hamburg, New York, Williamsville are some of the areas that have seen the greatest amount of snow fall.
It has not only happened in the state of New York, but also in others such as Pennsylvania and even in the Canadian province of Ontario, which borders the named US regions.
What is it and why does a “lake effect” snowfall occur?
The one known as “lake effect» occurs when a masa de aire very cold moves on a body of water plus caliente. The air in the lower layers is “hotter”, taking heat and moisture from the water.
having high thermal contrastthe hottest air mass rises, forming clouds that leave precipitation on the coast towards which the wind blows (which determines the path and formation of the clouds due to the lake effect).
the older is the thermal contrast between the body of water and cold air, more intense will be the rainfall.
This phenomenon Not only yes yes over lakes, since it can also occur over oceans. In SpainFor example, it can occur in the cantabrian coast when there are very cold air intakes from the north-northeast, being able to leave some snowfall.
In EUthe states that comprise the region which is known as the «Great Lakes» (Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario) usually experience this type of episodes, which every year stop average more of 5 metros of snow.