Los Angeles: The Great Lakes region of the United States is currently experiencing heavy lake-effect snow, marked by snow squalls, strong winds, and winter storms. This significant weather event, which started last week, has led to snowfall accumulations exceeding 3 to 5 feet in parts of Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New York, as reported by the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS).
The intense lake-effect snow is expected to diminish by Tuesday night, according to Xinhua news agency, referencing NWS updates. Currently, lake-effect snow warnings are in effect for areas in northwestern Pennsylvania and western New York, while winter storm warnings have been issued for parts of Michigan, northern Indiana, and western New York.
Lake-effect snow occurs when cold air, typically from Canada, moves across the relatively warm, unfrozen waters of the Great Lakes. This process allows warmth and moisture to transfer into the lower atmosphere.
As global temperatures rise and further warm the Great Lakes, regions prone to lake-effect snowfall are likely to see an increase in snow events, as a warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture, according to research from the University of Michigan.