3. On the following page you are given a map of snow totals (in inches) for the

Question

3. On the following page you are given a map of snow totals (in inches) for the winter of 1976-1977. That winter in this region was very cold but snowfall amounts were generally light, with a notable exception.

3a. Draw the 100-inch, 200-inch, and 300-inch isopleths. Shade in areas that received more than 300 inches of snow. What mesoscale winter weather phenomenon was responsible for all of this snow?

3b. Based on the shape of the snowfall patterns that your isopleths unveil, what wind direction appears to have predominated during the winter? Explain your answer.

3c. Notre Dame University is located in the town of South Bend, in north-central Indiana. What wind direction in winter would likely give the Fighting Irish the biggest lake-effect snow? Explain.

Explanation / Answer

STEP 1 :-

3a. Answer: The mesoscale winter weather phenomenon known as "lake-effect snow" was responsible for all of this snow.

STEP 2 :-

3b. Answer: The wind direction appears to be northwesterly wind that have predominated during the the winter.

Explaination: The lake-effect snow scenario involves the passage of a surface low pressure area or a cold front with northwesterly winds behind the system that move across the lake. As this cold air mass moves across the relatively warm lake surface, the lower part of the air mass is warmed. The air mass picks up the moisture from the surface of the lake. This moist unstable air mass can produce clouds leeward or downwind of the lake. Snow shower is produce by the vertical speed wind shear, along with orographic lift and frictional effects at the lakeshore.

STEP 3 :-

3c. Answer: The prevailing wind direction in winter would be westerly to give the Fighting Irish the biggest lake-effect snow.

Explaination: Snowfall accumulations are enhanced include the interior of the northern portion of the lower peninsula and the higher terrain of the northern portion of the upper peninsula. Thus lake-effect snow is that the heaviest bands of snow do not usually occur along the immediate shoreline, but tend to fall several miles inland.  

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