lake effect

Definition of lake effect

: 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 attributivelylake-effect snows

Examples of lake effect in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web This will be lake effect snow rare for the month of May. The storm could intensify quickly enough over 24 hours to become a bomb cyclone by Saturday night. — NBC News, "Mother's Day weekend snowstorm could bring bomb cyclone, thundersnow to Northeast," 7 May 2020 Winds will also develop some lake effect snow late Thursday into Friday downwind from the lower Great Lakes. — Judson Jones, CNN, "Nearly 52 million people are at risk for severe weather Wednesday," 8 Apr. 2020 Total snow accumulation through Saturday is expected to be between 6 to 12 inches, with higher amounts in areas hit hardest by lake effect snow or at higher altitudes, according to NWS. — Robin Goist, cleveland, "National Weather Service issues lake effect snow warning for parts of Northeast Ohio through Saturday evening," 26 Feb. 2020 The lake effect snow is being driven by cold air moving over the Great Lakes. — Daniel Manzo, ABC News, "Lake effect snow winds down in New York as severe weather and flooding threatens southern US," 29 Feb. 2020 The western part of New York and parts of the Great Lakes were pummeled by the biggest lake effect snow of the season, bringing upward of 28 inches in some places as more continues to fall. — Fox News, "Eastern Great Lakes region pummeled by blizzard, ‘monster’ lake effect snow band," 1 Mar. 2020 Blizzard conditions and the biggest lake effect snow of the season are slamming Western New York. — Max Golembo, ABC News, "Blizzard, 'monster' lake effect snow band pummel New York state," 28 Feb. 2020 When the lakes freeze, which usually increases in January or February, the moisture source for the lake effect snowfalls is cut off, Guy said. — Madeline Holcombe, CNN, "14 foot waves may be coming to the Great Lakes," 27 Feb. 2020 Though some lake effect snow might make its way east from the west side of the state for Thursday, the weekend is expected to be dry, Klein said. — Darcie Moran, Detroit Free Press, "Enjoy the sunny weekend? 4-8 inches of snow to hit Southeast Michigan," 25 Feb. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'lake effect.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

23 May 2020

Cite this Entry

“Lake effect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lake%20effect. Accessed 11 Jul. 2020.

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