Lake-effect snow, bitter cold to filter into the Great Lakes at midweek

By Brandon Buckingham, AccuWeather Meteorologist

Updated Dec. 16, 2019 11:48 AM

In the wake of an expansive winter storm tracking through the Ohio Valley and Northeast early in the week, cold air funneling southward over the Great Lakes will turn on the lake-effect snow machine at midweek.

Motorists traveling along the Great Lakes will likely be faced with snow-covered roads and rapidly changing visibility as lake-effect snow spreads over the region.

Bands of snow will begin to develop downwind of Lake Superior Tuesday evening and expand in coverage downwind of lakes Huron and Michigan overnight.

As the cold Canadian air continues to track south and east, additional snow will pile up around lakes Erie and Ontario on Wednesday in the wake of a storm system that will depart on Tuesday.

With the Great Lakes nearly ice-free, strong lake-effect bands will be able to materialize as the cold air presses over the relatively warm water.

Snow squalls are likely to develop along portions of US-31 in northwest Michigan, as well as portions of interstates 81, 86 and 90, downwind of lakes Erie and Ontario. AccuWeather meteorologists caution that the visibility could be quickly reduced to near zero courtesy of heavy snow and gusty winds, and it is common for multiple vehicle pileups to occur under these squally conditions.

The best chances for snowfall to top half of a foot or more will occur over the typical Northwest snow belts across northern Michigan, as well as portions of extreme northwestern Pennsylvania and western New York.

Along with the accumulating snow, midwinterlike cold will encompass the Great Lakes by midweek.

"Very cold air from Canada will build into the area behind the cold front starting Tuesday night. Temperatures will be 10-20 degrees below normal for this time of the year across the Great Lakes region," AccuWeather Meteorologist Clay Chaney said.

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Air temperatures in the single digits and teens along with a bone-chilling northwest wind will send AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures below zero at times, especially Wednesday into Thursday.

Aside from below-average temperatures, conditions across the Great Lakes will remain generally dry and settled into the weekend after the lake-effect snow tapers off by Thursday.