BBC: Upstate New York buried in snow

BBC ^ | Friday, 9 February 2007, 16:18 GMT | BBC Staff

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Upstate New York buried in snow

More snow squalls are on the way, forecasters say

Residents in northern New York state are bracing themselves for more heavy snowfalls as they struggle to clear up to six feet (1.80m) of snow.

Highways, schools and offices remain closed in Oswego County. Forecasters say an additional two feet of snow could fall by tomorrow.

A state of emergency has been declared in and around the county, which has seen six days of squalls of snow.

Freezing conditions elsewhere in the US were blamed for at least 20 deaths.

'Unusually long'

Emergency crews were struggling to clear roads in Oswego, where at times snow was falling at rates of 5in (12cm) an hour.

We catch up when it stops, but then it just comes again, even heavier Mayor Randy Bateman

"We're just trying to keep up. It's an almost unreal amount," Mayor Randy Bateman.

"We catch up when it stops, but then it just comes again, even heavier."

The so-called lake-effect snow is caused by the cold air picking up moisture as it moves over nearby Lake Ontario, depositing it as snow inland.

Meteorologists say the storms in the Lake Ontario area normally last a couple of days, and it is unusual for them to last so long.

Extreme cold weather has also been affecting other north-eastern and central areas of the country.

Deaths linked to the cold have been reported in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Wisconsin, New York and Maryland.

---

Have you been caught up in the snow in New York?

You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial +44 (0)7725 100 100. Please do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.

Click here to read terms and conditions

Do you have a webcam? If so, you can also send us a short video message. Click here to find out how

[PBRSTREETGANG]

They're used to snowjobs...

They've had Hillary visit before.

[ctdonath2]

Notice that nobody is calling in FEMA, the NG, or otherwise demanding billions in aid.

It's accepted natural conditions, consequences of choosing to live there. Happens from time to time.

Heck, I kinda miss it.

[Westlander]

Send Monica to blow the snow away.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Lake Effect Snow

******************************************************************

Lake Effect Snow

	BBC Broadcast Meteorologist Everton Fox takes a look at 'lake effect snow' and how it is formed.
Inland areas of water, such as the Great Lakes in North America, can actually create their own circulation systems. This is due to the large specific heating capacity of water, which results in water heating up (or cooling down) much more slowly than the surrounding land. As a result, this modifies the climate and weather of the surrounding land. In the spring and Summer, when the water is cooler than the land, air temperatures downwind of the lake are slightly cooler than they would be if the lake wasn't there. The cooler water also inhibits cloud formation, so the days are often sunnier as well. In the winter, the lakes can produce an effect known as 'lake effect snow'. In the winter, the lakes can produce an effect known as 'lake effect snow'. Cold, dry Arctic air often spills southwards into the northern parts of North America. Where the cold air meets the warmer water, evaporation occurs and the air is warmed. This makes the air unstable and turbulent. The warm moist air near the surface of the lake rises, which causes it to cool. However, it doesn't cool as much as the surrounding air that hasn't passed over the warmer lake waters. This effect is similar to that experienced when a hot bath is run and the cold air above the bathwater readily condenses. These heavy showers can leave up to 30cm (12 inches) of snow in just a few hours. The cooling air forms clouds of ice-crystals, which eventually form snowflakes. The prevailing cold wind blows the clouds over land, the heat source is lost and the air can no longer retain the moisture it's holding, causing heavy snow showers downwind of the snow. These heavy showers can leave up to 30cm (12 inches) of snow in just a few hours. Where the wind continues inland and meets hills or mountains, the air cools further as it's forced to rise, which in turn creates even more snow. 'Lake effect snow' is not confined to the shores of the Great Lakes, but can also occur near the Great Salt Lake (Utah, USA), parts of Japan, Korea and Scandinavia.

[mkmensinger]

It's due to global warming, dontcha know.

[Cicero]

Those lake effect storms generally result in a lot of snow in that area. Buffalo is infamous, and Rochester gets a lot too. I think we were spoiled because last winter was pretty mild, and so was this one until the weather turned.

That said, it's been pretty cold here in Vermont, and we got more snow again last night. Making up for the mild weather earlier. It hasn't gone down much below zero, but with the wind it's been too cold to stay outside very long.

[AUJenn]

Yep, it's that pesky global warming again. Here in N. Alabama, the high is barely above freezing and overhead passages and bridges have been iced over.

[rbg81]

And this is news....why?

[TigersEye]

Notice that nobody is calling in FEMA, the NG, or otherwise demanding billions in aid.

If it keeps trending towards these Ice Age conditions they may have to. There used to be thousands of feet of ice covering the New Enland area and it all started out as snow. Of course they could all hang in and adopt an Inuit lifestyle. They'd have to get used to clubbing seals.

[kjo]

We have 14 inches in Grand Rapids, but looking at upstate NY makes me feel pretty good.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Well usually the BBC and the Euroweenies are complaining about
Global Warming....maybe this will slow them down....

[Brilliant]

Nancy Pelosi's fault.

[aliquis]

This can clearly can be linked to Global Warming, CO2 and general raping of the Earth by those capitalists. From now on we are going to have winters like this all the time... yes. And hurricanes. And tornadoes. And stuff... we're surely doomed! We have to remove all greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, stop using the energy, fire, wheel and start communicating by the means of grunts and clicks if we ever hope to save our planet.

[Labyrinthos]

It's due to global warming, dontcha know.

Lake effect snow storms usually abate once the Great Lakes freeze over, which usually occurs late December. Because of the warm December and January, however, the lakes still have a lot open water to fuel the snow machine. Although the stupid will claim the lakes are still liquid because of global warming, I can assure them that this weather pattern has happened in the past (January 1978 comes to mind) and will happen again.

[Integrityrocks]

Boo hoo. I live at "sea level" in Alaska. We've had 300 inches of show this winter. Do the math.

[Integrityrocks]

show=snow sorry

[XRdsRev]

Actually FEMA is already in New York wrapping up work on earlier flooding disasters. They are probably already providing some preliminary support to the state. If a Federal disaster declaration is made, then FEMA will go full guns with whatever support is needed.

[VOA]

BBC: Upstate New York buried in snow

It's deja vu all over again.

Just like the Clinton years when we had to depend on the foreign
press (The Telegraph) to find out what Clinton was really about.

[mc5cents]

Lake effect snow storms usually abate once the Great Lakes freeze over,

Just FYI, I live in Buffalo, NY and as a matter of fact the only lake that freezes over is Lake Erie because it is the shallowest of the Great Lakes. The others do not freeze over due to there depth. They do however get a lot of ice formation which abates somewhat the lake effect.