Week of January 12, 2025 – January 18, 2025
by Elizabeth Suzedell, Environmental Educator
The past few winters in the Syracuse area haven’t been very snowy, but this winter has been feeling at least a little bit closer to normal. The Syracuse Hancock International Airport has had 44 inches of snow so far this season as of January 10th; last year at this time, it was only at 22 inches. Some neighbors to our north have actually had more snow than normal so far this winter, with lake-effect snow events dumping multiple feet of snow on them over just a few days!
Without the Great Lake Ontario nearby, we wouldn’t get nearly as much snow as we do here in Central New York. Measuring 193 miles long by 53 miles across, it is a huge source of moisture that impacts the weather in our area year-round. Water takes much longer to cool off than air does, so the lake still holds onto heat (gained over the summer) well into the fall and early winter. When cold air from Canada moves over Lake Ontario, the warm, moist air right above the surface rises and cools, and water vapor condenses to form clouds- the source of the lake-effect snow!
The amount of lake effect snow an area receives depends on a few factors. A larger difference between the air and lake temperature can lead to more intense snow. Elevation plays a big role too; an increase of just 100 feet in elevation can increase the amount of snowfall by several inches. The Tug Hill Plateau (located just east of Lake Ontario) rises up to 2000 feet above sea-level, and receives an enormous 200+ inches of snow annually. This makes it one of the snowiest places in the country!
Lake-effect is a dynamic and powerful phenomenon that makes the weather in Central New York so unique! How much snow have you been getting this winter at your home?