On January 19, meteorologists observed mesoscale vortices moving down Lake Michigan, a remarkable example of lake-effect snowbands. These vortices form when land breezes, caused by the temperature contrast between the cold land and the warmer lake, create a convergence zone over the lake, pushing the vortices south in a weak northerly flow. Captured by @NOAA's #GOESEast satellite and other weather monitoring tools, the vortices were visible in the Day Cloud Phase Distinction RGB, which highlighted the glaciated clouds. On January 20, lake-effect snow was also reported off the Finger Lakes, and ice movement was noted on Lake Erie. A MODIS view of Lake Superior showed lake-effect cloud streamers, with the lake's ice coverage at only 5%, well below the 16% average for the date. By January 21, snow covered 55% of the U.S., a significant increase from the 15% coverage one month prior, as shown by the NOAA20 satellite.
Snow covers 55% of the U.S. today as compared to 15% one month ago. #NOAA20 captured most of it via high resolution VIIRS imagery during an afternoon overpass. Zooming in on the western #GreatLakes ice can be seen forming along the #LakeMichigan shoreline. https://t.co/yCNKCKyryx https://t.co/7gSGYXPGBf
Beautiful MODIS view of the lake-effect cloud streamers over Lake Superior today. BTW, the lake is only 5% ice-covered, well below the average of ~16% for the date. #winter https://t.co/gGbEejLfin
Nice shot of the ice cover on the western end of Lake Erie today. Look closely and you can see the ice moving with the WNW prevailing winds. @NWSBUFFALO @NWSCLE @foxweather 1/2 https://t.co/Wm16q38UXF
Morning satellite view of lake-effect #snow bands in SW Kentucky, off Kentucky Lake and the Cumberland River. Current air temp in single digits. @nwsjacksonky @foxweather 1/2 https://t.co/2hpubcobqz
This 6-day #VIIRS recap of the #GreatLakes captures the arctic blast generating #lakeeffect clouds and snow across the region. Note the rope-like feature in the middle of #LakeMichigan on the 19th signifying a cool convective band of mesoscale vortices. https://t.co/6qEBMXDTnL https://t.co/r1nE888Gj3
Beautiful transition to lake-effect snow off the Finger Lakes. Looks like all of them are producing snow under arctic air and a perfect wind direction!! @NWSBinghamton @NWSBUFFALO https://t.co/9nNIR9RNlG
Today's mesovorticies over Lake Michigan are also detectable in GOES-East Imagery, notably the Day Cloud Phase Distinction RGB, which highlights the glaciated clouds (more green). https://t.co/iIWGmrrQkz https://t.co/JP8KCrrQ6C
Today's mesovorticies over Lake Michigan are also detectable in GOES-East Imagery, notably the Day Cloud Phase Distinction RGB, which highlights the glaciated clouds as having more green. https://t.co/JP8KCrrQ6C
A view via @NOAA's #GOESEast satellite this morning reveals thick clouds that are bringing snow to parts of the Midwest through the East Coast. #WinterStorm Warnings and #WinterWeather Advisories are in effect across the region. Latest updates: https://t.co/wJGBXDcfEu https://t.co/qK97VAOaro
Beautiful little mesovortices over Lake Michigan this morning 😍 #MIwx https://t.co/QJTcuqIM5u
Land breezes develop from the cold land to the warm lake, a convergence zone sets up over mid-lake and the vortices move south in the weak northerly flow aloft. (Radar, Temp and Wind) #weather @foxweather @spann https://t.co/TBT1uHQ3hx
I have never seen such a great example of mesoscale vortices down Lake Michigan as this one here. WILD!! #winter @foxweather https://t.co/mVd88CHiUP
Beautiful mesoscale vortices moving down Lake Michigan this morning. Another version of lake-effect snowbands. #winter @foxweather https://t.co/diQhQZNVeW