LAKE EFFECT STORM "LORENZ"
February 4-6, 2003
Lake Flake scale: ** 2 Flakes
Maximum Snowfall: Lk. Ontario: 15" (Scriba); Lk. Erie: 5" (Perrysburg)
Duration: 36 Hours +/-
Prime Feature: Well-aligned flow produced intense band off Ontario. Similar scenario produced much lesser amounts off nearly frozen Lake Erie.
Lake Flake Scale: ** 2 Flakes
The 12th lake effect event of this busy season was a rather typical one as another surge of cold air swept across Lake Ontario on a generally westerly wind. Lake Erie was largely ice covered so even though the ingredients were there...much lesser amounts fell. The activity began late on the 4th following a frontal passage after a thaw. It focused on northern Oswego county at first...and included thunder and lightning. The band drifted south during the 5th...reaching the south shore of Lake Ontario
during the morning...weakened during the afternoon as winds became nore northwesterly...then redeveloped during the evening over Oswego county and lifted north and weakened overnight.This was a decent event even though it was broken up briefly during Wednesday (5th) afternoon. It affected mainly Oswego county which has seen the brunt of storms during January. It earns two ** stars.
By the way...the 12 events so far in the 2002-03 season is now the second most in the nine winters of record for the "Lake effect" names. Only 1995-96 with 19 had more. Normally there are nine events...and we still have over a month to go!
Here are some representative amounts ....
Off Lake Erie
| Perrysburg | 5 inches |
|
Warsaw |
4 inches |
| Sherman | 4 inches |
Off Lake Ontario
|
Scriba |
15 inches |
| Oswego | 14 inches |
| Fulton | 12 inches |
| W. Monroe | 9 inches |
| W. Leyden | 9 inches |