White Thanksgiving: Lake-Effect Snow to Sweep Across Great Lakes Snowbelt
While most Americans will enjoy cooler temperatures and pleasant weather, several areas around the Great Lakes will be shoveling snow ahead of Thanksgiving dinner. Snow-prone cities along Lakes Michigan, Erie, and Ontario are expected to see their most significant lake-effect snowfall of the season. While exact totals are still evolving, the potential for more than a foot of snow is increasing. Winter Storm Watches are in effect and people in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula are being advised to alter their holiday travel plans.
Thanksgiving travel could be snarled across the Great Lakes Snowbelts, as the FOX Forecast Center tracks what it expects to be the most significant lake-effect snow event of the season thus far beginning Wednesday and lasting through Thanksgiving Day and into Black Friday.
Significant Lake-Effect Snowfall Expected
Wind gusts of 50 mph will be possible across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, as well as places downwind of Lakes Erie and Ontario in Ohio, western Pennsylvania and western New York, which will create periods of whiteout and life-threatening driving conditions through Friday.
Winter Storm Watches in Effect
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued Winter Storm Watches for those locations beginning Wednesday, with most lasting through Friday evening. Confidence from computer forecast models continues to increase that Michigan’s Upper Peninsula will see snowfall that will be measured in feet, all told.
FILE – Cars drive in near whiteout lake-effect snow on Interstate 79 on December 12, 2024 in Erie, Pennsylvania.
(Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)
FILE – ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA, UNITED STATES – DECEMBER 2: An unforgiving lake-effect snow blankets the Great Lakes, disrupting daily life in New York and Pennsylvania, United States on December 02, 2024. (Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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FILE – ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA, UNITED STATES – DECEMBER 2: An unforgiving lake-effect snow blankets the Great Lakes, disrupting daily life in New York and Pennsylvania, United States on December 02, 2024. (Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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FILE -Dee Rose, 32, an Erie City employee clears snow from sidewalks along State Street on December 12, 2024 in Erie, Pennsylvania.
(Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)
Sarah Belczyak, 41, shovels snow in front of her home on East 8th Street on December 12, 2024 in Erie, Pennsylvania.
(Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)
Lake-Effect Snow to Impact Holiday Travel
By Thanksgiving Day, lake-effect snow will be fully underway across the U.P. and snow bands could be intense and long-lasting. Marquette could see between 2-3 feet of snow through Friday, although snow totals will be highly dependent on wind direction.
Lake-effect snow to slam Great Lakes Snowbelts beginning Wednesday.
(FOX Weather)
Meanwhile, the FOX Forecast Center said forecast uncertainty is higher around Lakes Erie and Ontario. But currently, computer forecast models are coming into agreement that the heaviest snow bands will set up over counties just south of Buffalo, New York, blanketing places in-and-around Dunkirk and Jamestown.
Expected snowfall.
(FOX Weather)
Winds are expected to shift on Friday and push snow bands farther south, according to the FOX Forecast Center.
Expected snowfall.
(FOX Weather)
Some Snowbelt locales in Ohio, Pennsylvania and western New York could see a foot of snow or more through Black Friday.
Winter Weather Alerts.
(FOX Weather)
Be sure to watch FOX Weather for the latest on this developing story.
For more information on the lake-effect snow and its impact on holiday travel, visit Here
Image Source: www.foxweather.com
