Ever wonder why some lakeside towns get buried in snow while others nearby get only a dusting? It’s no coincidence - it’s a phenomenon known as Lake-Effect Snow.

This meteorological marvel occurs when cold air sweeps over warmer lake waters, picking up moisture and dumping it as snow on the leeward shores. It's nature's own snow machine, working overtime to create winter wonderlands (or headaches, depending on your love for shovelling).

Lake-effect snow is extremely difficult to forecast, but since the lake has to be warmer than the air above for snow to form, it’s most common in late autumn and early winter. Lake-effect snow is a vivid example of how geographical features can dramatically influence local weather, catching residents and meteorologists by surprise with its sudden onset and intensity.