What is lake effect in Chicago?
What is lake effect in Chicago? The proximity of Lake Michigan to the city produces a lake effect—cooler breezes off the lake during warm-season days and cold-season nights (providing the lake is not frozen), and warmer breezes during cold-season days (again, providing the lake is not frozen) and warm-season nights.
How does a lake affect humans?
Lakes are valuable resources for people in a variety of ways. Through the centuries, lakes have provided routes for travel and trade. The Great Lakes of North America, for example, are major inland routes for ships carrying grain and raw materials such as iron ore and coal. Farmers use lake water to irrigate crops.
Does lake effect make it warmer or colder?
Lake-effect snow forms when dry, freezing air picks up moisture and heat as it moves along warmer lake water. This causes some of the lake water to evaporate into the air, causing the air to be warmer and wetter.
Can lake effect snow happen anywhere?
Anywhere! Lake effect snow can occur over any unfrozen body of water where the fetch is long enough to gather enough moisture to create snow. Lake effect snow can occur over Lake Tahoe, the Great Salt Lake, the finger lakes, and even has been reported over rivers in the Midwest!
Does lake-effect snow happen in Chicago?
Lake-effect snow is a frequent contributor to our seasonal snowfall in Chicago and with Lake Michigan almost ice free, the lake-effect snow machine is open for business provided a cold wind is blowing in our favor in the right direction. Nearly 93% of the Great Lakes does not have significant ice cover.
What makes lake effect snow different?
The difference between lake-effect snow and a blizzard In contrast, lake-effect snow is created when cold air passes over a warmer body of water, picking up moisture and creating conditions conducive to snowfall.