lake effect

noun

: a meteorological phenomenon in which warm moist air rising from a body of water mixes with cold dry air overhead resulting in precipitation especially downwind

—usually hyphenated when used attributively

lake-effect snows

Examples of lake effect in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

With over 270 inches of snow per year due to the lake effect, this Keweenaw Peninsula resort offers off-piste (ungroomed terrain) skiing. —Katy Spratte Joyce, Travel + Leisure, 7 Feb. 2026

In the Upper Peninsula, lake effect snow and blowing snow will reduce visibility to near zero at times, especially along the lakeshores and open areas such as the M-28 corridor between Harvey and Munising. —Brandi D. Addison, Freep.com, 6 Feb. 2026

Another round of lake effect snow that will be potentially very heavy near Lake Michigan prompted winter weather watches and advisories in Chicago and Northwest Indiana. —Laura Bannon, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026

Doom said this marks the third lake effect event in the Chicago/Northwest Indiana area. —Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1951, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for lake effect

• aftereffect
• interconnect
• affect
• aspect
• bedecked
• bisect
• collect
• connect
• correct
• deflect
• detect
• direct