it stops pretty much once the lake feezes over doesnt it? if the lake freezes over that is...
Lake Erie does freeze over. It’s the only one that does because it’s so shallow.
And yes, that does stop the lake effect.
This is the time of year that the record breaking lake effect snowfall totals would occur. The amount of snowfall produced depends a lot on the temperature contrast between the lake water and air temperature. Fall is when the lakes are going to be their warmest and a shot of freezing air, like they are getting right now, and all heck breaks loose.
The other major factor is wind direction. If the winds are parallel to the axis of the lake, it allows for the maximum amount of water vapor possible to be absorbed into the air.
This particular event had all the necessary factors come together in just the right way and this is what they get. And the lake snow warnings are up until Sunday afternoon, so there is still time for them to get nailed.
The band is still pretty far north but the radar shows it starting to shift southward again to come back for a second or third try on the southtowns.