Sounding data taken during the passage of this first short-wave trough shows that the boundary-layer depth increased ahead of the trough passage both north and south of the lake-effect band. This boundary layer deepening resulted in a rapid increase in convective intensity. Following the short-wave trough passage, both the boundary-layer depth and the resulting convective intensity decreased. Additionally, the short-wave trough had an influence on lake-effect snow maintenance in the presence of boundary-layer shear. Despite the 6080° of boundary layer shear present, the lake-effect band reached its most intense stage as the short-wave trough approached. A detailed investigation of model forecasts during trough passage shows there were subtle differences throughout the 36-h forecast period, but the most pronounced error between forecasts and observations was in the amplitude of a downstream ridge. Diabatic heating associated with a front and surface low that preceded the lake-effect snow event likely amplified this ridge in a manner that was not even captured by the 6-h forecast. This resulting amplification coupled with the sharp short-wave trough to the west resulted in a highly curved flow and a distinctly different orientation to the lake-effect band than was captured in any model run. Thus, the lake-effect snow event began with a snow band that had a different shape, orientation, and location than what was present in the model forecasts.
![](images/flag.png)
![](images/blue_ribbon.png)