Lake Effect Snowfall to the Lee of the Great Lakes: Its Role in Michigan

Abstract

Lake effect snowfalls contribute a significant proportion of the total winter snowfall in areas to the lee of the Great Lakes. In Michigan during the seasons 1957–58 through 1961–62 at least 30% of the seasonal snowfall in lee areas was derived from lake-atmosphere interactions. Evidence suggests that lake effect snowfall has significantly increased during the past several decades, particularly in southwestern Michigan and northern Indiana. While the observed changes cannot be definitely ascribed to any single factor, it seems likely that a general cooling of winter temperatures may be partially responsible for this climatic change.