Lake Effect Snow-Heat and Sunshine—It’s All Good
Posted: Thursday, January 05, 2012
by Steve Kovacs
The Kovacs Perspective
I love the heat. Sunshine and hot temperatures have always been my cup of tea. I walk around all summer long in shorts and short sleeved shirts as light as feathers. Of course, living in Ohio, I could only do this in the summer time especially because winter in my part of the state is tough. In fact, about 40 miles from where I live, in an area just outside of Ohio into Pennsylvania and New York is an area that I’ve heard gets more snow than Siberia—yeah, Siberia!
It all has to do with something called lake effect snow. I live near one of America's Great Lakes, Lake Erie. We are one of the only places in the world to get such a high degree of havoc from that lake-effect phenomenon. Lake effect snow is when cold air flows over warm lake water, and causes snow and in our case, tons of it. In addition, all this snow hits areas of high elevation, and you probably guessed it, yes, I live really high up. Lower elevation areas just a few miles from me get two inches of snow where we’ll get 10 inches. Until Lake Erie freezes over, we are always waiting for the blizzards that we usually get a few times a year. We pretty much consider four inches of snow a dusting. I don’t even get bothered by anything lest than six inches.
To my friends in Canada, the weather forecasters out here always blame your fine country for our weather woes. They warn us when an Alberta Clipper, whatever that is, is coming from Canada and going to cross Lake Erie causing the white powdery menace. In all fairness, I had a very good friend from Toronto, Canada who told me with a smirk that their weather casters always blamed the cold air they got as coming from America. I was never sure if he was joking.
Well, we just got hit with about eight inches of snow the other day, our first big snow of the year. No biggie though. A couple of days using my heavy-duty snow blower kept my 700-foot driveway clear and today all the public roads are already snow free. Out here, our winters consist of us constantly wondering when the next blizzard is coming. This very well may say we’re dumb to stick around and not move to Florida or some other area of heat and sunshine. I’ve been considering making a move to the south where snow is something hardly ever seen. Until that move, I’m going to enjoy the white stuff. There’s beauty in most of natures doing, from lightening storms, to rain, to the driest of earth’s deserts---and in snow. Snow is beautiful, crisp and awe inspiring. Getting great exercise while snow blowing, I also watch in awe as all the snow falls around me. It’s plain amazing to see and actually experience how it all can form and cover everything like a hand-made white canopy.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I’d rather be in shorts, straw hat, barefoot and wading with dolphins nearby. However, we should make the best with what we got. So, for a while at least, big coats, hats, and gloves will be in order. And for those of you in the sun and heat, be nice . . . don’t rub it in!
To my friends in Canada, the weather forecasters out here always blame your fine country for our weather woes. They warn us when an Alberta Clipper, whatever that is, is coming from Canada and going to cross Lake Erie causing the white powdery menace. In all fairness, I had a very good friend from Toronto, Canada who told me with a smirk that their weather casters always blamed the cold air they got as coming from America. I was never sure if he was joking.
Well, we just got hit with about eight inches of snow the other day, our first big snow of the year. No biggie though. A couple of days using my heavy-duty snow blower kept my 700-foot driveway clear and today all the public roads are already snow free. Out here, our winters consist of us constantly wondering when the next blizzard is coming. This very well may say we’re dumb to stick around and not move to Florida or some other area of heat and sunshine. I’ve been considering making a move to the south where snow is something hardly ever seen. Until that move, I’m going to enjoy the white stuff. There’s beauty in most of natures doing, from lightening storms, to rain, to the driest of earth’s deserts---and in snow. Snow is beautiful, crisp and awe inspiring. Getting great exercise while snow blowing, I also watch in awe as all the snow falls around me. It’s plain amazing to see and actually experience how it all can form and cover everything like a hand-made white canopy.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I’d rather be in shorts, straw hat, barefoot and wading with dolphins nearby. However, we should make the best with what we got. So, for a while at least, big coats, hats, and gloves will be in order. And for those of you in the sun and heat, be nice . . . don’t rub it in!
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)Hahaha... I hear you, Steve. For me, I would never ever get the white stuff or whatsoever flakes dropping down your side but it is actually amazing to see snow coming. Is it 3 months to go for the snow ?
I love the climate here. But it has been drizzling off and on since last December. The weather is fine here, good.
Yes Hilda, about three months of snow. I'd like to visit your country one day.....maybe one day--never know. Keep dry and I'll keep warm--thanks.From the first 3 sentences in your first paragraph, Steve, you would definitely love staying in any part of Malaysia should you come.
Some months are warm, some months are cloudy/rainy (right now)I'll look you up if I ever get there. Can you cook?
Cooking no problem for me. Hot dog hamburger spaghetti .....or hot soup, chicken herbal soup, pork rib winter melon soup etc unless you say you want to go on diet. You may be fattened by me.
Steve,
I have to admit, having lived in London, Ontario for 16 years, I experienced something similar to what you get. (The Londoners also called it the lake effect.) We would get a few feet but Detroit and Toronto just a few inches. I love Canada, miss my friends and Tim Hortons, but I don't miss snow that always started on Halloween and lasted past Easter! [Oh, this is a funny. As I'm typing this, the secretary from my church phoned to tell me that she would be going in late because of the snow. We got 3/8 of an inch last night and she's worried about driving!]
Enjoy it and remember, summer is on its way as the days are gettiing longer! (Always the optimist here.)I used to go to London--small world! Yes, all the Great Lake areas I'm sure have it--some worse than other areas I bet.
How funny that 3/8 of an inch of snow panicked her. That's something where we literally have had guys ride their motorcycles in (they're a little nuts but I've seen it--very rarely).
Years ago, a friend left Ohio and went to North Carolina. He used to tell me the city where he lived would just about close down when they had a couple of inches of snow. Here we have huge downpours of snow and we just drive through it--sometimes with sweaty palms but we trudge through stuff that some would poop their pants in--kinda funny but on the other hand--we're probably all nuts out here!
Thanks................Steve, I have "You Know You're From Ontario When..." (which I'm sure would apply to your area) 'Your grandparents drive at 110 Kph through 13 feet of snow during a blizzard, without flinching.' The one I love, however, is, 'You know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter, construction.'
Nancy,
Sounds very similar to stuff said out here....so far we are having a VERY mild winter.
Steve, Ours has been mild as well -- I don't want to say it too loudly, though, or the global warmers will be in high gear. Wish they understood that it's called weather.
Great informative article. NC (here) is not prepared for huge snow storms, so yes, we close down schools etc...our biggest problem in Mountains are a few ice storms each year. Budgets do not support a lot of heavy equipment for 2 or 3 snows a year.
One small snow this year here, more at higher elevations.
Dangerous curvy roads (long drops off mountainsides), and slippery Interstates means more off days for students, as buses never run on rural icy roads. Of course Piedmont to Coast have problems with ice more than snow, and hydroplaning with water on roads.
Enjoyed the thought of you snowplowing a 700 ft driveway...lol."just kidding".
Hi Elle--thanks and thanks for the fan add too!
My friend was a Major for Cary police department--just retired--he left a bad area of snow out here in Ohio and moved out there years ago--he laughed his butt off about how everyone was so different regarding snow. But you bring up some very realistic reasons why it's handled with much more dread etc. You broke it down with reasons other than how I just kind of glossed over their reasons.
By the way, the driveway isn't too bad--the blower has a drive of its own--it pulls me and I act like I'm doing work...it's actually fun!!! Now you know I'm nuts!!!!!!!I've always been a fan, but I forget to hit that button every time I visit. A lot of us aren't playing with a full deck...lolHa, thanks and I'm a few cards short nmyself...........
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