Lake-Effect Precipitation Bands associated with Small Lakes

Much of the current knowledge regarding lake-effect snow storms is associated with large water bodies, such as the Great Lakes. Snowfall events attributed to small lakes (fetch < 100km) have received less attention, although significant snowfall totals have been documented with these systems. As an example, Lake Champlain lake-effect storms can generate snowfalls over localized regions which are comparable to large-scale winter storms and on rare occasions produce snow squalls with visibilities less than ¼-mile and up to 33-cm (13 inches) of snow in a 12-hour period. This study examines lake-effect precipitation events which have occurred in the Finger Lake region of New York State (NYS) during the winters (Oct. – Mar.) of 1995 – 2005 and in the vicinity of Lake Champlain during the winters of 1997 – 2005. Archived WSR-88D radar data collected in Binghamton, NY and Burlington, VT were used to identify 125 and 67 lake-effect events in the NYS Finger Lakes and Lake Champlain regions, respectively. The results of the study provide information concerning the characteristics, frequency, and environmental conditions favorable for lake-effect events on small lakes and offer a comparison of small lake findings with those of Great Lakes lake-effect events.