The lake-effect snowstorm enveloping the Northeast and Midwest: What we know

Lake-effect snow blowing in from the Great Lakes has blanketed parts of Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York, stranding hundreds of vehicles on roads and snarling post-Thanksgiving travel.

Well over 2 feet of snow had fallen in many parts of the region by early Monday, with some communities getting more than 3 feet. Lake-effect snow warnings, freeze alerts and other winter advisories remained in effect in many areas as bands of snow continued streaming off the lakes Monday morning.

The lake-effect conditions are expected to continue dumping snow in parts of the Great Lakes region during the week, meteorologists said. Some areas could see up to 6 feet of snow by Tuesday, with the heaviest snowfall expected along the belly of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario in Pennsylvania and New York. Governors of both states have made disaster declarations in these areas and deployed National Guard troops.

“It’s going to be pretty brutal,” said Brian Hurley, a senior meteorologist at the National Weather Service.

There have been some reports of minor injuries, and no reports of deaths, from this storm so far.

Here’s what we know about the snowstorm.

Where has it snowed the most?

The heaviest amounts of snow so far have fallen in northern Michigan and along a roughly 160-mile stretch of Interstate 90 from northeast Ohio to Buffalo, New York.

Several New York communities east of Lake Ontario had also received over 40 inches of snow by Sunday night. Copenhagen, about an hour north of Syracuse, was inundated with over 58 inches, according to the weather service. West Carthage, a nearby village, received 41 inches, and Watertown received over 37 inches.

Northern Michigan got record-breaking snowfall Friday. The resort town of Gaylord received over 2 feet, breaking a previous daily record of 17 inches in 1942, the weather service said.

At least an additional 2 feet of snow had fallen over parts of the Upper Peninsula by Sunday afternoon, and another 10 inches were expected, forecasters said.

How is the storm affecting travel?

Lake-effect snow is especially dangerous for drivers because conditions can change rapidly. The weather may be clear in one area, but there could be heavy snow and poor visibility just a few miles away.

The snow prompted road closures and commercial truck bans along sections of Interstate 90 in New York near the Pennsylvania state line on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

On Saturday, Pennsylvania officials said hundreds of vehicles had been stranded. Some motorists slept in their vehicles at gas stations to wait out the hazardous conditions. One woman’s trip from Buffalo to Columbus, Ohio — ordinarily about a five-hour drive — took more than 24 hours to complete after she became stuck for hours on the highway.

Brenton Davis, the county executive of Erie County, Pennsylvania, said Sunday that crews were digging out abandoned vehicles to clear travel lanes on state roads, with more snow expected overnight.

When will it end?

Forecasters expect that reinforcing Arctic air and another storm system will keep lake-effect snow falling through the week, though the intensity of the snowfall is expected to fluctuate based on the wind direction.

The areas around Lake Erie in Pennsylvania and New York could see another 2-3 feet of snow, Hurley said. Michigan’s Upper Peninsula could get an additional 2 feet, and forecasters expect another 11 or so inches in northeastern Ohio by Tuesday.

Winds will increase in intensity Wednesday and Thursday as the storm moves over the Great Lakes region and the chance for blowing snow and snow squalls increases. That will also bring the possibility of snow elsewhere in the Northeast, especially in the higher terrain of the Appalachians. Forecasters predict that more snow could fall over the weekend as another storm passes through the region.

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What’s causing the storm, and when did it start?

Lake-effect storms occur when persistent winds push cold air over the relatively warm waters of the Great Lakes. The storm picks up moisture over the lakes and then dumps it over the colder land downwind, often producing huge amounts of snow.

Lake-effect snow is typical in the Great Lakes region this time of year, Hurley said, when water temperatures are as warm as they will be through the winter.

“They were actually above normal going into the Thanksgiving weekend,” Hurley said, referring to water temperatures.

“That gives you more energy, more moisture, more instability off the lakes with that cold air blowing over it,” he added.

Experts say climate change could increase the amount of lake-effect snowfall in the short term, as warmer lake temperatures and longer ice-free periods lead to more evaporation that can fuel these storms. Researchers have found that lake-effect snowfall has risen around Lake Superior and Lake Michigan. As the climate continues to warm, though, more of this precipitation may eventually fall as rain instead of snow.

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How has the storm affected communities?

The snowstorm upended plans both for travelers and for people who stayed put. Schools announced snow days for Monday. Church services were canceled Sunday, and many businesses were closed. Local events were postponed, like one in Erie that was supposed to feature local vendors, restaurants and museums.

In Erie, residents armed with shovels worked to dig out vehicles or clear driveways Sunday even as the snow continued to fall around them.

Jeremy Hodges spent about an hour chipping away at the snow around his car, but with little progress to show for it. Shaking his head, he said, “I don’t think it’s going to happen today.”

Officials of the Buffalo Bills recruited fans to help clear the team’s home stadium before a night game Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers. Fans were offered $20 an hour, along with hot drinks and food, to shovel out the grandstand. (And shovels were provided.)

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While some people hunkered down and others tried to brave the snow, only to quickly turn around again, a few capitalized on the snowfall to go sledding or just view the storm as a winter adventure.

Robert Warner, a manager of an Irish pub in Buffalo, said the storm would help his business. Asked if the snow might prompt him to close the pub for the day, he said: “Lord, no! If anything, we’ll be busier.”

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

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