News DetailINCREDIBLE Canadian lake effect snow band off of Georgian Bay!
Posted At: December 4, 2007 @ 3:28 AM
Posted By: Reed Timmer
Related Categories: Snow
An intense lake effect snow band has been pounding areas southeast of Georgian Bay between Toronto and Barrie, Ontario tonight with 3+ inch per hour snowfall rates, thunder, and lightning under the most intense part of the band!
The reason for the intense lake effect event over the Great Lakes can be seen in the RUC 850 mb analysis below, which indicates -10 to -15C temperatures just above the surface. Given water temperatures currently in the upper 50s in Georgian Bay, extreme low-level instability is being generated above the relatively warm lake waters, and intense lake effect snow squalls are the result.
Here is the most recent warning statement from Environment Canada regarding this incredible lake effect event:
2:32 AM EST Tuesday 4 December 2007
Snowsquall warning for
Kitchener - Cambridge - Region of Waterloo continued
..Snow squalls and strong winds producing whiteout conditions and dangerous driving conditions tonight into Tuesday..
This is a warning that snowsqualls are imminent or occurring in these regions. Monitor weather conditions..Listen for updated statements.
In the wake of last weekends Major winter storm strong northwesterly winds and cold Arctic air are combining to produce intense snow squalls and whiteout conditions to the Lee of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay.
Georgian Bay..Snow squalls are coming inland from east of Thornbury to Wasaga Beach to Midland and affecting inland communities such as Barrie and Innisfil including portions of highway 400. A strong snowsquall extends all the way from southern Georgian Bay across Barrie then over Innisfil to Newmarket and Richmond Hill. This snowsquall may extend briefly at times into the City of Toronto.
Lake Huron..Many narrow multibanded snowsqualls are affecting the snowbelts southeast of Lake Huron with snowsqualls regularly getting as far inland as the Kitchener and Woodstock to norwich areas. Radar does show one very strong snowsquall from the Goderich area southeast across highway 401 near London. The Ontario provincial police reported near zero visibility in this snowsquall earlier tonight. This snowsquall likely has snowfall rates of 2-4 cm per hour in it along with nil visibility in very heavy snow.
In general snowfall amounts of 5 to 10 cm are likely with local snowfall amounts of 20 to 30 cm in the heaviest snowsqualls. A trained weather spotter noted close to 30 cm of snow from a snowsquall in the Innisfil area near the shore of lake Simcoe and 20 to 25 cm of snow in the Newmarket area along with visibility of only 100 metres in very heavy snow. Sudden whiteout conditions from blowing snow are also being observed in many areas from northwesterly winds gusting to 70 km/h. Motorists should slow down..Exercise extreme caution and be prepared for dangerous winter driving conditions as roads will be snow covered and slippery.
Warnings
Kitchener - Cambridge - Region of Waterloo2:32 AM EST Tuesday 4 December 2007
Snowsquall warning for
Kitchener - Cambridge - Region of Waterloo continued
..Snow squalls and strong winds producing whiteout conditions and dangerous driving conditions tonight into Tuesday..
This is a warning that snowsqualls are imminent or occurring in these regions. Monitor weather conditions..Listen for updated statements.
In the wake of last weekends Major winter storm strong northwesterly winds and cold Arctic air are combining to produce intense snow squalls and whiteout conditions to the Lee of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay.
Georgian Bay..Snow squalls are coming inland from east of Thornbury to Wasaga Beach to Midland and affecting inland communities such as Barrie and Innisfil including portions of highway 400. A strong snowsquall extends all the way from southern Georgian Bay across Barrie then over Innisfil to Newmarket and Richmond Hill. This snowsquall may extend briefly at times into the City of Toronto.
Lake Huron..Many narrow multibanded snowsqualls are affecting the snowbelts southeast of Lake Huron with snowsqualls regularly getting as far inland as the Kitchener and Woodstock to norwich areas. Radar does show one very strong snowsquall from the Goderich area southeast across highway 401 near London. The Ontario provincial police reported near zero visibility in this snowsquall earlier tonight. This snowsquall likely has snowfall rates of 2-4 cm per hour in it along with nil visibility in very heavy snow.
In general snowfall amounts of 5 to 10 cm are likely with local snowfall amounts of 20 to 30 cm in the heaviest snowsqualls. A trained weather spotter noted close to 30 cm of snow from a snowsquall in the Innisfil area near the shore of lake Simcoe and 20 to 25 cm of snow in the Newmarket area along with visibility of only 100 metres in very heavy snow. Sudden whiteout conditions from blowing snow are also being observed in many areas from northwesterly winds gusting to 70 km/h. Motorists should slow down..Exercise extreme caution and be prepared for dangerous winter driving conditions as roads will be snow covered and slippery.
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I just looked at the GFS for this weekend after I saw a graphic on the Norman NWS about storms and there is a small chance there could be one on Saturday south of Norman. There could be decent wind shear with low Cape in place by Sat. If so it is definitely worth watching, but odd are against it.
Good morning, folks.
If you want to know where I (and Matt) live, we are basically at the top (NW) of the yellow band within that snow band.
I put our 13 pound dog out this morning for a pee, and he stepped off the stairs and disappeared in the deep snow. (It was hilarious. Wish I had gotten video.)
I can get some pictures to you in a couple of hours. Matt will probably beat me to it.
Hi ho! I love the snow! (And I work from home today!)
howdy reed, can you tell me? is this a waterspout (towards the end of the vid):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vw7prymDHKw
Ya Tom i already beat ya to it
Reed i got some video from ya ill send it to ya after i get home from work
its only going to be about 38 seconds my camera crapped out on me. Im charging battery and if its still happens when i get home from home ill get more.
ya basic the plus on that radar is my work. and me and Tom are west of that plus. Its stillsnowing here this morning. Anyways im off to work peace out.
I want a nor'easter in Arkansas AND a lake effect event. And Shadow Farrar wants to have snow deep enough for him to disappear in too! That sounds pretty demanding, doesn't it? WELL I DON'T CARE! :D
It's cold in Toronto today, when I started work this morning I could just see lake Ontario steaming, so I can imagine lake Huron doing the same. I'm driving all day today, so we'll see how it goes, but I hear there are a lot of white out conditions. But right now I have clear sky's, but just 30mins from here they are getting pounded.
Well, we're at 30+ cm, and it's still snowing (though not quite as hard).
Here are a few pictures I took while my kids and I were out shoveling:
http://s91.photobucket.com/albums/k307/thegees/?action=view¤t=DSC01468.jpg
http://s91.photobucket.com/albums/k307/thegees/?action=view¤t=DSC01474.jpg
http://s91.photobucket.com/albums/k307/thegees/?action=view¤t=DSC01469.jpg
The kids made a great snowcave in the drifts. Even the dog had a wonderful time.
I love snow!
Hey nice pics guys!!! I'm glad others can enjoy the snow like me!! Congrats!!
Looks like Tim MN is right again on the snow!!
A SNOW ADVISORY HAS BEEN POSTED FOR THE WALKER...BRAINERD...
AITKIN...PINE CITY AND SIREN AREAS THROUGH 6 PM TODAY. DAYTIME
SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 3 TO 6 INCHES CAN BE EXPECTED IN THESE
AREAS. NORTH AND WEST OF THIS AREA...SNOW ACCUMULATION IS STILL
EXPECTED...WITH AMOUNTS RANGING FROM AROUND AN INCH IN THE TIP OF
THE ARROWHEAD...TO 2 TO 4 INCHES NEXT TO THE ADVISORY AREA.
LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS ARE POSSIBLE IN THE HIGHER TERRAIN AT THE
HEAD OF THE LAKES AS WELL...DUE TO EASTERLY WINDS. SEE THE LATEST
WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE FOR MORE SPECIFIC INFORMATION.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY
ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 1 TO 3 INCHES IS POSSIBLE ACROSS
THE SOUTH SHORE TONIGHT...WITH PERHAPS ANOTHER INCH ON WEDNESDAY.
OTHERWISE...THERE COULD BE A FEW INCHES OF SNOW ON THURSDAY AND
THURSDAY NIGHT ACROSS THE ENTIRE REGION.
Here's a lil mix of the vids I took this weekend!!
http://s195.photobucket.com/albums/z285/shadetree6981/December%201st%202007/?action=view¤t=61f5c720.pbr
Hey guys how is everyone??
that radar loop of the lake effect snow looks ace!!
temps here at the moment are at 54 degrees f and mostly cloudy.
I am deciding that our reasons for moving to Arkansas were not the best (no harsh winters, summers not as hot as the deeeeep south). First of all, our summers ARE hot. You all remember my moaning and groaning during the Ridge of Death this past August. 105 degrees ain't cool. AND, we happen to LIKE SNOW?!?! What were we thinking?!?!?! AAAAAA!!!!!!!
(... as the coffee takes hold yet again ...)
Posted By Tom ON | December 4, 2007 @ 11:04 AM #
Well, we're at 30+ cm, and it's still snowing (though not quite as hard).
Here are a few pictures I took while my kids and I were out shoveling:
http://s91.photobucket.com/albums/k307/thegees/?action=view¤t=DSC01468.jpg
http://s91.photobucket.com/albums/k307/thegees/?action=view¤t=DSC01474.jpg
http://s91.photobucket.com/albums/k307/thegees/?action=view¤t=DSC01469.jpg
The kids made a great snowcave in the drifts. Even the dog had a wonderful time.
I love snow!
-----------------------
That really killed me, you know. Especially the "I love snow" part! Wanna know what's exciting here?! WE had a HARD FROST this morning. Did you hear that?! I'M LOSING MY MIND!!!!!!
:D
Nice pics there Tom looks pretty crazy.
Looks like we will be getting 2-4 inches heree in Ohio tonight and tomorrow, we are under a Snow Advisory.
OMG YOU GUYS ARE SO LUCKY YOUR GETTING KILLED BY ALOT OF SNOW HERE WE HAVE NOTHING AND GET NOTHING TILL LIKE JANUARY ERRRRRR!
... And now my sister just called (Western Maryland) and says that they have 6+ inches, but it's hard to tell because the wind has been blowing 50 MPH for 2 days, and more snow is on the way ... *faints*
thats mad weird that maryland has snow and new jersey doesn't they shouldn't sopme how cause they are more south of me but gets me so annoied that so close to ocean makes the air warmer so always means less snow
thats true it has been blowin up to 50 yesterday for 5 mins power went out here but came bac on and that was durin school and gusts are still like that today wit periods of flurries
You just never know, do you, Heidi et al?
Last year we had a good day of snow in November, and then nothing at all until the end of January.
It was 10C (lessee, that's about 50F for you Imperial folks) in January. We had lettuce starting to come up in the garden.
I'll take this weather any day! And I'm very glad I got the ice tires on last weekend.
(But I still want to see a tornado someday!)
Looks like the fun isn't over yet:
Strong northwesterly winds and cold Arctic air are continuing to produce intense snow squalls and whiteout conditions. Two main areas of snowsqualls continue to the Lee of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay this morning.
Georgian Bay..Snow squalls are coming inland from Meaford to Wasaga Beach to Midland and extending inland all the way to the northern parts of York region. The most intense snow squall extends from near Collingwood southeast to Allison and just west of King City. This snowsquall will drift ever so slowly eastward by about 20 or 30 km today and may move back into the Barrie..Innisfil area later this afternoon. This squall will remain quite intense through tonight and into Wednesday morning although its inland penetration will slowly lessen as wind speeds decrease.
General snowfall amounts in the snow squalls should range from 5 to 15 centimetres with local snowfall amounts of 30 centimetres today with similar amounts tonight although likely in slightly differing locations as the squalls slowly meander. In addition gusty winds to 60 km/h today will produce local blowing snow at times in exposed areas.
Snow squall total accumulations received as of 10 AM this morning:
Location snowfall total (cm)
Barrie 20-25 Beeton 40
Not to rub snow in your face Heidi....
Its been snowing all morning fairly heavy in Winnipeg too. But afterall this is totally normal for us.
I think after you've shoveled the same driveway 6 times in 4 days, the love of winter would dissipate just a little.
WOW! Thanks for sharing those pictures Tom.
All I could think about last night is how I would love to be near the radar site (the cross in the radar loop). Incredible event.
I might drive to Barrie over the holidays and try to intercept one of these bands if it materializes.
Looking forward to the video matt!
Hey, Reed, if you're ever coming past here, let me know and we'd happily have you over for a visit. We could probably get together with Matt, too.
(I drive past the radar site every other day. The kids and I think it looks like a huge golf ball that God has teed up.)
...and it's still snowing ... between 10 and 60cm yet to come, according to the forecast ...
We Just went under Heavy Snow Warning here until midnight!! hehe
...ACCUMULATING SNOW ACROSS THE NORTHLAND TODAY INTO TONIGHT...
.A FAST MOVING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL BRING ANOTHER ROUND OF
SNOW TO THE NORTHLAND TODAY INTO TONIGHT. EAST TO NORTHEAST WINDS
AHEAD OF THE LOW WILL BRING LAKE ENHANCED SNOWFALL TO THE HEAD OF
LAKE SUPERIOR...EAST ALONG PORTIONS OF THE SOUTH SHORE TODAY AND
TONIGHT. A HEAVY SNOW WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE HEAD OF THE
LAKE...EAST INTO BAYFIELD AND ASHLAND COUNTIES FOR 6 TO 10 INCHES
OF SNOW.
A SNOW ADVISORY IS ALSO IN EFFECT GENERALLY ALONG AND SOUTH OF A
LINE FROM BIG FORK TO HINCKLEY...AND EAST OVER BURNETT AND
WASHBURN COUNTIES. THE SNOW WILL COME DOWN HARD AT TIMES...WITH
VISIBILITIES DOWN TO A HALF MILE AND SNOWFALL RATES UP TO AN INCH
AN HOUR AT TIMES. THE SNOW WILL GRADUALLY DIMINISH FROM NORTH TO
SOUTH LATE IN THE DAY. TOTAL SNOWFALL IS EXPECTED TO REACH 3 TO 6
INCHES IN THE ADVISORY AREA. ROAD CONDITIONS MAY DETERIORATE
QUICKLY DUE TO THE QUICK HITTING NATURE OF THE STORM SYSTEM. IF
YOU WILL BE DRIVING ACROSS THE AREA...BE SURE TO ALLOW PLENTY OF
TIME TO REACH YOUR DESTINATION SAFELY...AND LET SOMEONE KNOW OF
YOUR TRAVEL PLANS.
Here is an interesting story about "Snow Rollers" whatever the hell they are.
www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswick/story/2007/12/04/nb-snowrollers.html
What a stupid name. I'm sure someone can come up with a better one.
lol Frosty's children!! hehe
It's coming down really nice here probably 2" today up here in Hermantown!! Looks great on GR!!
Hey guys just got home from work and am working on the video. Took a couple of pics ill upload them shortly.
And Tom i would love to get together one day and possiblly chase some lake effect snow if Reed chooses to come up here one day.
It looks like the heavier bands are passing just SW of us here, but there is a nice stream coming right off of the lake right at us!! It's pretty!!
This is my mom - she posted in the last thread on the main page! :D
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Posted By GMM | December 4, 2007 @ 1:49 PM #
It's 12/04. We have had 3 days of winds with gusts up to 60mph. We have about 3 inches of snow and it's still snowing. I live in MD. Western MD to be exact. IF anyone ever heard of Garrett County, MD. We had a 2-hour school delay today with a one hour early dismissal. Sunday, we had lots of ice and no Church. I think it makes for a long week when I cannot go to church. I saw on one of the comments that Heidi wants lots of snow. Well, Heidi, you know where you can find it. Good old Garrett Co., MD. I am very glad we didn't get the storm that you people in Iowa and the other states got. We are expected to get up to 6 inches tomorrow. That will be fun. Stay warm and stay safe everyone.
the video that i have isway out of focus you really cant see the snow at all but i have pics and video from after and a video of my dog playing in the snow
Tom you have a 13 pound dog i have a 65 pound German Shepard that almost disapered into the snow.
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff207/ontariostormchaser/Decembersnowstorm009.jpg
Strike, they get those snow roller things in Colorado, too, near other family we have there. I remember reading the online newspaper and seeing the photos ... which I found just now by going to the site and searching (yay, archives). Here's a pretty cool one (make sure you click to enlarge it):
http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20030120/VIEWFIND/301200009
Matt, that's a cool picture of your dog! But I am still mad at everyone who has this stuff. I am not speaking to Brady or Minnesota Tim, in fact! ;)
Hey Tom, Matt!! 75lb pit!!
http://s195.photobucket.com/albums/z285/shadetree6981/December%201st%202007/?action=view¤t=1202-12.jpg
There is a small snow squall about 4 miles E of me. more on the way!
Well... 75 the last time I weighed him which was a few years back!
Augh Heidi... That makes me a sad panda! =( I'd be glad to send ya some if I could!!
Tim says about 6" at his place!! He can hardly see across the street!! I'd say probably about the same here!! hehe
Hey guys whats going on??
i have to say for once, it has been quiet a nice day here lol 54 at the moment...
Heidi id send ya some in the mail but one i dont know your address and two it would probably melt by the time it got there.
The lake effect looks just awesome on GR!! you can see it blowing up from western Lake Superior and dumping on us!!
Heres a shot from GR!!
http://s195.photobucket.com/albums/z285/shadetree6981/December%201st%202007/?action=view¤t=LakeeffectKDLH.png
Hell... I'd bring her a couple truck loads full!! She'd have the only place in Izard Co with a foot snow in her front yard!! hehe Maybe we could get her a snow maker!! hehe
That would be pretty funny driving down the street and theres no snow on the ground and you drive by this one house and theres a foot of snow on one person yard that would be great.
its looking good there Brady, more snow, id of thought that would of been the last thing you would need more of but ya seem to be enjoying it lol :P
Brady that is INCREDIBLE!
What kind of snowfall rates are getting in that thing?
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff207/ontariostormchaser/Decembersnowstorm007.jpg
That is basucly how much fell here at my house. My driveway had nothing on it before last night. Im going out with a measurl=ing tape to get an exact number.
Probably an inch or so an hour!! It's really light and fluffy!! Makes shoveling easy!! hehe The other bands seem to be missing us completely!!
Some people I know of have their own snow machines. Reed probably knows who I am talking about. We'd have an awesome amount of snow here every night - it gets down to 25 or so, and then warms up into the 40s or 50s during the day. I think I could do really good while the temps stay in the 40s. Might cause some wrecks on our road ... but then again, people would probably not be too shocked. :D
(Hi Brady, Hi Tim MN! ;)
Oh and i was driving home today and i decided to have some fun with the snow and basicly i was driving sidways down the road for about 100 yards. Didnt hit anything though.
I decided to down like an idoit and the car went right and left about 4 times before she finally was completely sideways and like i said i didnt hit abything. But the heart beat went up like no tomorrow.
Here is the video guys its nothing special the funny part is my dog at the end. Ill post more pictures in a second.
Sorry here is the link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4Ny5tAP4Lw
The squall coming down from Georgian Bay has dropped nearly 60 centimeters, that's about 2 feet of snow on Kettleby, just north of the King Radar site.
Also, feel free to check out this youtube video of the squall in Newmarket.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPN5chDt0Fw