If you are a regular viewer of WBNG-TV's Action News, then there's little doubt you've heard our weather team refer to lake effect snow on a number of occasions. Typically, lake effect snow develops as cold moist arctic air flows over the relatively warm waters of the Great Lakes...but many people may not be aware that the Finger Lakes are in fact large enough to generate lake effect snow at times! We are seeing a remarkable case of that this morning.
An extremely narrow band of lake effect snow has been impacting areas immediately downwind of Cayuga Lake since the very wee hours of this morning. While only a handful of communities are being impacted by this band of snow, there have been reports of snowfall rates as high as one inch per hour at times...and a total accumulation of more than 8" has been measured so far! What is so exceptionally remarkable about this band of snow is the fact that locations just one or two miles either side of it have received less than 2" of snow....and once you travel more than four or five miles away from the center of the band snowfall amounts taper off to a mere dusting! Below are some selected snowfall amounts reported to us so far:
8.3" Slaterville Springs
7.0" Caroline
6.7" Caroline Center
4.2" East Ithaca
2.0" Freeville
1.8" Groton
1.5" Enfield
These amounts may not be the final tallies as the band of snow continues to affect locations along the Route 115 corridor. Be sure to check back later for updates!
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