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Historic Lake Effect Event?! 11/17-11/21


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1 hour ago, LansingWeather said:

crap, looks like i may be just a hair too far north...

 

You’ll be ok- I am at the Marriot Harborcenter and you’re literally a jog north.  There are so many variables as to where this band will set up…shit, it could park itself just south of the city.  It will make slight movements once established…will be fun to watch unfold. 

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This is SO UNBELIEVABLY intriguing, that I just had to post it up.

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
411 AM EST Thu Nov 17 2022

.SYNOPSIS...
Colder air will pour across the region, resulting in a prolonged
lake effect snow event. Lake snows will focus east of the lakes
today before shifting northeast of the lakes tonight and Friday.
This is when the heaviest snow will impact the Buffalo and Watertown
areas. Lake snows will then shift north and west of these cities
Saturday before dropping back southward Saturday night.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY/...
All the ingredients are in place for a major lake effect snowstorm,
with more than ample lake induced instability, a cap averaging
12-15k ft, and periodic shortwaves which will provide additional
moisture.

Early this morning, there`s a well developed lake effect snow band
off Lake Erie however the westerly flow is now directing the most
intense snows to the south of our area. This area of lake effect
snow will still produce snowfall rates 1"/hr across the Western
Southern Tier. Expect bands to remain nearly stationary before
weakening around mid-morning as a shortwave trough axis moves off to
our east and strips away the deeper moisture.

Meanwhile the band off Lake Ontario will become better organized,
with radar trends suggesting this is already occurring. This is due
to moisture from the shortwave and is also shown by most mesoscale
model guidance. Snowfall rates of 2" can be expected, and there`s
also a risk of thundersnow within about 15 miles of the lake. There
have already been some lightning strikes with the most intense band
off Lake Erie. Expecting a total of 10 to 18 inches in most
persistent snows off Lake Ontario through this evening. Most of this
snow will occur through early afternoon before the departure of the
shortwave.

Outside of these areas, today will simply be brisk and chilly with
highs in the 30s and 15 to 25 mph winds.

A second shortwave will approach the region this evening, which will
shift winds to the southwest. Lake effect snow bands will move
rapidly northward, reaching the Buffalo metro area around 8 p.m. The
band will remain across the Buffalo area, but will meander slightly
south late tonight following the passage of the shortwave. Moisture
from the shortwave and the long fetch down Lake Erie will support an
intense band with snowfall rates of 3"/hr and some lightning strikes
also possible. The most persistent snows through daybreak Friday are
likely to be from downtown Buffalo to the airport, and the Buffalo
southtowns. By daybreak Friday, expect snowfall amounts well over a
foot in some of these locations.

Heavy snow will reach Watertown shortly after midnight, with heavy
lake snows settling across the northern half of Jefferson County by
daybreak. Snowfall rates of 2-3"/hr and some lightning strikes are
also possible off Lake Ontario.

&&

.SHORT TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/...
...CRIPPLING LAKE EFFECT SNOW STORM REMAINS POSSIBLE THIS PERIOD...

For this update we will issue a lake effect snow warning for Niagara
County, while converting the watch for Orleans to a winter weather
advisory.

A deep longwave trough will be established this period, funneling
cold air across the Great Lakes. There will be a few shortwaves
riding through this trough that will oscillate the bands of
snow...with a subtle one Friday, and a much deeper one Saturday and
into Saturday night.

Off Lake Erie...

A SW flow will direct a singular band of heavy lake effect snow up
Lake Erie and inland across the City of Buffalo...the airport and
out towards Batavia to start the morning. This band will remain
fairly stationary through the day though there could be some varying
persistence to the band, so this will still need to be considered.
There continue to be hints of a weak shortwave trough moving
through, veering steering winds to 250 direction. NAM and Canadian
indicate this, but didn`t drift axis of heavier snow too far south.
Local knowledge is once the band becomes developed, it is very hard
to push it too far south. The strong convergence enhanced by the
attempt at the band drifting south will just lead to impressive
omega values, along with deep moisture in the snow DGZ and lake
induced equilibrium levels rising to over 20K feet. This as the band
of snow will be oriented along the long axis of the lake will
produce very intense snowfall rates of over 3 inches per hour.
Seeing how this narrow, intense band of snow will then not oscillate
much into Friday night, this is where this band will have the best
chance to produce feet of snow. The highest totals may very well end
up across the Buffalo Metro area (downtown and towards the airport
with 240 wind) or just to the south to the south if wind direction
veers to 250. For what it`s worth the snowfall record Friday for
Buffalo is 8.2 inches set back in November 2000...a lake effect snow
event that preceded the big November 20-23rd event that left many
stranded and produced the greatest November daily snowfall of 24.9
inches on the 20th.

Climatologically, the northern flank of this snowband will have a
very tight gradient, while the southern flank will have accumulations
fan out with lesser gradient. This tight gradient usually occurs
when the lake is still warm as it is here with values in the lower
50s at the top of end of what is typical for mid November and with a
cold airmass overhead as well as equilibrium levels up towards H5 or
15-20kft AGL. This northern flank is also where we expect the
stronger inbound winds as well as the highest snowfall rates to
occur.

The higher lake equilibrium levels as well as well as increased lake
instability may bring a few rumbles of thunder within the lake snow
band. This may occur later Thursday night and through Friday
night...with lightning possible over Lake Erie and to about 20-25
miles inland.

The snowband will begin to drift northward Friday night as a
shortwave trough drops towards the western end of Lake Erie. The
backing winds will drive the heart of the snowband up towards
Niagara County, while also brushing by Orleans. We will upgrade
Niagara to a lake effect snow warning, while hoisting a winter
weather advisory for Orleans...timing later Friday night through
Saturday night.

Behind this shortwave winds will veer, rather quickly and send the
plume of lake snow southward passing Buffalo late Saturday
night...and down towards the Buffalo southtowns and Ski Country by
the end of the night.

Behind this deeper trough on Sunday winds will quickly veer to west-
northwesterly. This will drive the lake snows off Lake Erie down
towards Ski Country and the Southern Tier. This is a bit faster with
the southward push, leaving the metro Buffalo area with very little
if any snowfall during the day Sunday. It will be chilly and
blustery with highs in the mid to upper 20s, and around 30F near the
Lake shoreline.

Off Lake Ontario...

Friday the lake effect snowband will be established over central and
northern Jefferson County to start the day.

The strong convergence leading to decent omega values, along with
deep moisture in the snow DGZ and lake induced equilibrium levels
rising to over 20K feet will allow this band of snow to continue
through the day across Jefferson County with the snowfall rates of 3
inches per hour. The axis of greatest snowfall this period will
likely be directed at Watertown and towards Philadelphia. Late
Friday into Friday night seems when highest rates will occur.

Though the snow band will not be oriented along the long axis of
Lake Ontario, an upstream connection to Lake Erie snowband is
becoming more and more evident and will enhance the snows over
Jefferson County. Here snowfall totals will also be measured in
feet, and have kept the warning going. The snow band initially
clipping southern Lewis with warning amounts will then clip the
northern portion of the county Friday and Friday night.

There is also a potential for thunder to occur within the more
intense portion of the Lake snowband over Lake Ontario and into the
western half of Jefferson County. Likewise to Lake Erie, the taller
lake equilibrium heights and high delta T`s will create an
environment that will allow for charge separation and lightning to
occur.

Ahead of a deeper shortwave trough, winds will back late Friday
night and into Saturday sending the snowband up towards the Saint
Lawrence Valley. The veering winds will lower snowfall totals some
during the day Saturday as snow becomes more spread out. Also the
veering winds over Lake Erie will likely direct the outer extent of
lake moisture towards Prince Edwards peninsula and into
Canada...with the Lake Ontario band then losing its
upstream connection and lowering the intensity of the lake band.

By Saturday night this upstream connection to Lake Erie will merge
back into the Lake Ontario band, with the snow band structure
increasing in strength...this as it drops southward across Jefferson
County and northern Lewis.

Behind this deeper trough on Sunday winds will quickly veer to west-
northwesterly. This will drive the lake snows off Lake Ontario down
towards Oswego County, where a more impressive band of snow may
develop with an upstream connection to Georgian Bay. Depending upon
if this connection materializes, there could be at least advisory
level snow amounts during the day Sunday to areas southeast of Lake
Ontario. Off Lake Erie, snow amounts will be less. It will be chilly
and blustery with highs in the mid to upper 20s.

Off both Lakes...

Winds will begin to increase during the day Friday. Gusts towards 35
mph near the shoreline will create blowing snow...that with the
heavy snowfall will lower visibilities at times to just a few
hundred feet. Travel late Thursday night and through Friday night
will be very difficult.

Outside of the lake effect snowbands the weather will be fairly
quiet. Skies, while still mainly cloudy through the day Friday will
begin to clear some Friday night and into Saturday. The clear skies
Friday night outside of the lake plumes will bring a cold night,
with overnight lows 10 to 15F across the inland Southern Tier as
well as the southern Tug Hill. Apparent temperatures in these
regions will drop into the low single digits Friday night.

&&

.LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Prolonged upper level troughing will continue to remain across the
Northeast Monday and into Tuesday before ridging across the Central
and Northern Plains pushes across the Great Lakes Wednesday. Overall
this pattern will support slightly below to normal temperatures
through the early part of the week while introducing some dry
weather by mid week.

Looking into the details, initially the upper level troughing
pattern will continue to funnel the cold air across the region
Monday as high pressure sets up to the south of the region. This
will place the region under west-southwesterly flow which will
support lake effect snow showers east of both lakes to linger into
Monday. Then, as the trough aloft pushes east, high pressure will
engulf overhead of the area Tuesday and Wednesday introducing a
break in the active weather.

&&

.AVIATION /09Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
Mainly VFR with pockets of MVFR CIGS outside of the lake snows.
These will focus east of the lakes today, which will mean the only
TAF site that`s impacted is KJHW. Visibility will frequently drop
below a mile in snow through mid-morning.

Major lake effect event will begin to impact KBUF this evening, with
high confidence that heavy snow will move across and be near the
KBUF terminal after around 01Z Friday. The band will be intense with
vsby 1/4SM or less. The band will be across or near the KBUF
airfield for most of tonight. It may briefly meander across KIAG,
but any impact there will be temporary. The band will reach KART
around 06Z Friday, also lowering vsby to 1/4SM in heavier snows.

Outlook...

Friday...VLIFR in bands of very heavy lake effect snow
northeast of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. Major impacts at KBUF
and KART are likely. VFR/MVFR outside of lake effect.

Saturday and Sunday...IFR/LIFR in meandering bands of lake
effect snow east and northeast of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.
VFR/MVFR outside of lake effect.

Monday...MVFR/VFR with weakening mixed lake effect precip east
of the lakes

&&

.MARINE...
The moderate to occasionally strong breezes will bring an extended
period of SCA winds and waves on both Lake Erie and Lake Ontario
through this weekend. The strongest winds will be late Saturday
night into Sunday when winds will approach gale force.
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Hope you're tall, Jeb. 

This looks like it might shift north towards Niagara Falls for some part of Saturday then drift back south again Saturday night, could be snowing at a rate of 6-8 inches an hour during that period. Will shift further south Sunday mid-day then weaker snow shifts north back into BUF Sunday night. Despite warm advection might continue well into Monday at a lesser rate. 

(did not read the above post until this got posted, seems about the same)

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Tonight
A chance of snow showers, mainly between 7pm and 8pm, then snow after 8pm. The snow could be heavy at times. Some thunder is also possible. Low around 28. Southwest wind 9 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 13 to 19 inches possible.
Friday
Snow. The snow could be heavy at times. Some thunder is also possible. Areas of blowing snow after noon. High near 35. Southwest wind 9 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 15 to 21 inches possible.
Friday Night
Snow. The snow could be heavy at times. Some thunder is also possible. Low around 22. Southwest wind 11 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 8 to 12 inches possible.
Saturday
Snow, mainly before 1pm, then a chance of snow showers after 1pm. Areas of blowing snow between 11am and 1pm. High near 30. South wind 14 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Saturday Night
Snow, mainly before 2am, then a chance of snow showers after 2am. Low around 20. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
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..SNOWFALL REPORTS  
  
LOCATION                     AMOUNT    TIME/DATE       LAT/LON                

   
..NEW YORK
 
  

   
..CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY
 
  
3 S FREDONIA                 3.4 IN    1045 PM 11/16   42.39N/79.33W          

   
..ERIE COUNTY
 
  
2 S SOUTH WALES              10.0 IN   1150 PM 11/16   42.68N/78.57W          
1 W COLDEN                   8.2 IN    1030 PM 11/16   42.65N/78.71W          
3 NE HOLLAND                 7.5 IN    0950 PM 11/16   42.67N/78.51W

11.6" in Boston already

2022&cp=0

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...LAKE EFFECT SNOW WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS
EVENING TO 1 PM EST SUNDAY...

* WHAT...Heavy lake effect snow expected. Total snow accumulations
  of 2 to 4 feet in the most persistent lake snows. The heaviest
  snow is expected late this evening through Friday night when
  snowfall rates could exceed 3 inches per hour. Winds gusting as
  high as 35 mph with produce patchy blowing snow.

* WHERE...Northern Erie and Genesee counties.

* WHEN...From 7 PM this evening to 1 PM EST Sunday.

* IMPACTS...Travel will be very difficult to impossible. The
  hazardous conditions will impact the Friday morning and evening
  commute. The heavy snow could also bring down some tree limbs
  and cause scattered power outages.
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