lake effect

noun

|Updated on: 19 Jul 2018

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 attributively

lake-effect snows

Recent Examples of lake effect from the Web

Likely a lake effect clouds and power plant snow, per Steve Horstmeyer, a meteorologist with Fox19.

— cheryl vari, Cincinnati.com, "Cincinnati weather: What caused the surprise, school-closing snow in NKY?," 1 Feb. 2018
Our Great Lakes also gift us with that famous (infamous?) lake effect snow — regular white stuff in northern Wisconsin for skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and more snowy activities.

— chelsey lewis, USA TODAY, "Seven natural wonders in Wisconsin," 16 Mar. 2018
Our Great Lakes also gift us with that famous (infamous?) lake effect snow — regular white stuff in northern Wisconsin for skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and more snowy activities.

— chelsey lewis, USA TODAY, "Seven natural wonders in Wisconsin," 16 Mar. 2018
Our Great Lakes also gift us with that famous (infamous?) lake effect snow — regular white stuff in northern Wisconsin for skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and more snowy activities.

— chelsey lewis, USA TODAY, "Seven natural wonders in Wisconsin," 16 Mar. 2018
Because of its location next to the Sea of Japan, winds from the west create lake effect-like storms, picking up moisture from the sea and dumping it onto Tateyama in the form of snow.

— angela fritz, Washington Post, "This towering ‘snow canyon’ is carved into one of the snowiest places on Earth," 18 Apr. 2018
Our Great Lakes also gift us with that famous (infamous?) lake effect snow — regular white stuff in northern Wisconsin for skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and more snowy activities.

— chelsey lewis, USA TODAY, "Seven natural wonders in Wisconsin," 16 Mar. 2018
Our Great Lakes also gift us with that famous (infamous?) lake effect snow — regular white stuff in northern Wisconsin for skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and more snowy activities.

— chelsey lewis, USA TODAY, "Seven natural wonders in Wisconsin," 16 Mar. 2018
Our Great Lakes also gift us with that famous (infamous?) lake effect snow — regular white stuff in northern Wisconsin for skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and more snowy activities.

— chelsey lewis, USA TODAY, "Seven natural wonders in Wisconsin," 16 Mar. 2018

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.