We waited the whole of December for snow. Instead it remained brown and wet with rain. We hoped for snow to decorate the outdoors with festive winter blankets of crystals to ski on. We had temperatures in the 50’s and drying southern winds. Now after the holidays, Mother Nature has changed her mind and is blowing arctic wind towards the midwest making up for lost time. Two photos are attached below.
In Michigan, we experience two types of snow. System snow and Lake effect snow. The Great Lakes are currently ice covered over 71 percent of the total surfaces. This may sound like a lot but this is the lowest amount of ice since records have been kept. The Question is, “Where is the ice?”
Part of the answer is Lake effect snow. Winds blowing from the west or north, gather moisture from the open waters and when making shore , drops the moisture in the form of a light fluffy snow. The majority of the snow accumulates within 25 miles of the lake shore.
As winter progresses, more of the lakes surface freezes until most of the lakes are covered with a protective surface of ice, stopping lake effect snow falls. Most years, Lake Michigan forms ice on all but the deeper southern portion. The continue lake effect snow depletes the water from the bodies of water, spreading them over a large part of the land. It may take years to return the water to the lake. In passed years, the shore area has enlarged as the lake’s level have shrunk. Additionally, the Great Lakes temperature in summer months has risen to the warmest levels in years. The changing water has increased the amount of algae inhibiting light and decreasing the fish populations.
This is more than a El Nino or La Nina shift. There is a growing concern for the warming of the Great Lake basin will lessen the amount of fresh walter available to the world’s population.
With single digit temperatures expected in the next week, More of the lake’s will form ice. We will have to see if it will be enough!
STORMY WEATHER
warm wings
cold air create snow
lovely but robs lake water
snow fall slow to return to lake
alert
carolaspot@aol.com January 15, 2024
snow covered woodlot
traveling up and down the blind highway 