Lake-effect snow forms when dry, freezing air picks up moisture and heat as it moves along warmer lake water. This causes some of the lake water to evaporate into the air, causing the air to be ...

Lake-effect snow, which can last for only a few minutes to several days, falls from narrow bands of clouds. These snows typically occur only in the fall or early winter, before the lakes freeze over.

The Great Lakes is the only place where lake-effect snow happens in the United States, except occasionally at the Great Salt Lake in Utah. Learn more about lake-effect snow and lake-effect snow ...

Graphic via NOAA National Weather Service Lake Effect Snow Can Be Dangerous. Lake effect snow storms can be very dangerous. For example, 13 people were killed by a storm that took place November ...

A lake-effect snow warning is issued when NWS is at least 80% confident that part of the county will see six inches or more of snow in12 hours or less.

Lake-effect snow is pretty delicate. For lake effect to become heavy and meaningful, the clouds in the lake-effect band need to rise and build to between 10,000 feet and 15,000 feet.

Lake-effect snow, which can last for only a few minutes to several days, develops from narrow bands of clouds that form when cold, dry arctic air passes over a large, relatively mild lake.

Lake-effect snow is typically localized and intense, affecting areas immediately downwind of the lake. Example: Lake-effect snow buried parts of eastern Cuyahoga County with 6 inches of snow.

The heavy lake effect snow prompted the Buffalo Bills to ask fans for help clearing snow out of Highmark Stadium ahead of the team's game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night.

Lake effect snow occurs when cold air moves across the open waters of the Great Lakes creating snowfall, said Lily Chapman, a meteorologist at the NWS Forecast office in Marquette.