Lake Effect Snowfall to the Lee of the Great Lakes: Its Role in Michigan

Abstract

Lake effect snowfalls contribute a significant proportion of the total winter snowfall in areas to the lee of the Great Lakes. In Michigan during the seasons 1957-58 through 1961-62 at least 30% of the seasonal snowfall in lee areas was derived from lake-atmosphere interactions. Evidence suggests that lake effect snowfall has significantly increased during the past several decades, particularly in southwestern Michigan and northern In-diana. While the observed changes cannot be definitely ascribed to any single factor, it seems likely that a general cooling of winter temperatures may be partially responsible for this climatic change.