Storm dumps feet of snow on Great Lakes region

Name: WORLD
Price range: $

Matthew Jewell helps shovel snow off his father's car on the side street in Erie, Pa. The Associated Press / Photo by Gene J. Puskar

Storm dumps feet of snow on Great Lakes region

A lake-effect snowstorm over the weekend blanketed cities from Michigan to New York in 3-5 feet of snow. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro declared states of emergency as the storm rolled across the region. Meanwhile, the eastern half of the United States is experiencing below average temperatures this week.

The frigid temperatures are expected to gradually rise mid-week, before another strong cold front ushers in arctic temperatures Wednesday night and into Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. Strong winds are forecast to shift over the Appalachians and Northeast later this week.

What is a lake-effect storm? This type of snowstorm occurs when cold air moves across the Great Lakes. As the air passes over the relatively warm water, warmth and moisture transfers into the atmosphere and forms clouds that produce 2-3 inches of snow per hour, according to the NWS.

Dig deeper: Read Christina Grube’s report about a bomb cyclone that hit the west coast last month.

Lauren Canterberry

Lauren Canterberry is a reporter for WORLD. She graduated from the World Journalism Institute and the University of Georgia with a degree in journalism, both in 2017. She worked as a local reporter in Texas and now lives in Georgia with her husband.