Lake Effect Snow Characteristics and Effects

The video explores the harsh winter conditions in Chicago, highlighting the phenomenon of lake effect snow. It explains how cold air and warmer lake water create intense snowfalls, particularly affecting cities on the leeward side of the Great Lakes. The video also discusses how wind patterns typically protect Chicago from the worst of these snowfalls, unlike cities like Buffalo. However, when winds shift, Chicago can experience significant snow events.

What makes winter in Chicago particularly challenging?

• The high humidity

• The frequent hurricanes

• The combination of wind, cold, and lack of sunlight

• The constant rain

What is a common characteristic of the snowiest cities in the U.S.?

• They are all located in the mountains

• They are on the wrong side of a Great Lake

• They are all coastal cities

• They are all in the southern states

What are the two main factors that cause lake effect snow?

• High pressure and low humidity

• Cold air and warm water

• Heavy rainfall and low temperature

• Strong winds and high altitude

How does cold air interact with the Great Lakes to create lake effect snow?

• It cools the water, causing snow

• It absorbs moisture from the warmer water

• It causes the water to evaporate

• It freezes the lake surface

Why can lake effect snow be so localized?

• Because it is caused by global warming

• Because it is influenced by large weather systems

• Because it is a hyper-local weather event

• Because it only occurs in the mountains

What is the effect of lake effect snow on visibility?

• It has no effect on visibility

• It improves visibility

• It only affects visibility at night

• It can cause sudden and severe reductions in visibility

What is a unique feature of lake effect snow compared to other weather systems?

• It is always accompanied by thunderstorms

• It only happens at night

• It can occur in any season

• It tends to be hyper-local

What typically prevents Chicago from experiencing as much lake effect snow as Buffalo?

• The presence of mountains

• The city's proximity to the ocean

• The west to east wind patterns

• The city's higher altitude

What happens when the wind patterns change in Chicago?

• The city experiences drought

• The city becomes very humid

• The city experiences a heatwave

• The city gets a taste of the snowpocalypse

Which direction do the typical wind patterns in Chicago flow?

• South to North

• West to East

• East to West

• North to South