The first lake-effect snow event is expected to hit the Upper Midwest and interior Northeast on Monday through the start of December, and will likely cause massive travel disruptions.
Several feet of snowfall is possible in some regions as the “first major widespread” lake-effect snowfall is set to strike early Monday, according to AccuWeather. “Some roads may even close for a time due to the intensity of the lake-effect snow,” AccuWeather meteorologist Jake Sojda noted in his forecast.
A lake effect snow event occurs when cold air from Canada moves across the unfrozen, relatively warm Great Lakes, transferring that warmth and moisture to the lowest parts of our atmosphere, the National Weather Service explained. These narrow bands of weather (also known as squalls) can produce several inches of snow per hour, causing chaos for transportation routes and those living under the deluge.
❄️❄️ The first major widespread lake-effect snow event of the season could be highly disruptive for travel from the Upper Midwest to the interior Northeast with feet of snow possible for some locations.
What you need to know: https://t.co/Bwgj36BBGV pic.twitter.com/iBak1vCXLF
— AccuWeather (@accuweather) November 26, 2023
Visibility while driving in these conditions can suddenly plummet as squalls move in. “Travel headaches will abound along I-90 from just south of Buffalo, New York, all the way to Cleveland during the first half of the week due to heavy snow coming off the lake,” Sojda noted.
The storm will likely hit an area as far south as Washington D.C. up to Jonquiere, Canada. If you live in the area and don’t have food, water, and fuel at your home, I highly recommend going out today and getting stocked up. (RELATED: If You Think Close-Up Tornado Videos Are Scary, Wait Till You See What Else Is Coming…)
In 2022’s largest seasonal snowstorm, partly caused by lake effect snowfall, the death toll hit the 60s. Erie County, New York, took the biggest hit.