This winter the US and Canada have been hit hard by lake-effect snowstorms, blanketing many cities in snow and placing 19 million people under winter alerts. These storms occur when cold winds sweep across warmer bodies of water, causing moisture to rise and heavy snow to fall downwind. Here are some striking images of the storm's aftermath.
In images: Lake-effect snowstorm blankets US and Canada
What is the lake effect?
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A lake-effect snowstorm happens when cold winds blast across a warm body of water. This occurrence causes moisture to rise. Consequently, snow falls downwind. Lake-effect snow, which occurs across the shores of the Great Lakes of the US and Canada, provokes nearly half of all snowfall in the region.
This winter the US and Canada have been hit hard by lake-effect snowstorms, blanketing many cities in snow and placing 19 million people under winter alerts. These storms occur when cold winds sweep across warmer bodies of water, causing moisture to rise and heavy snow to fall downwind. Here are some striking images of the storm's aftermath.
This winter the US and Canada have been hit hard by lake-effect snowstorms, blanketing many cities in snow and placing 19 million people under winter alerts. These storms occur when cold winds sweep across warmer bodies of water, causing moisture to rise and heavy snow to fall downwind. Here are some striking images of the storm's aftermath.
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