12/7/06 REPORTS: NY / PA

[Dan Robinson]

After Buffalo's event on Monday, I spent a couple of nights in Erie in order to catch lake-effect round 2 on Thursday. Once again, I did not succeed in my primary goal of capturing thundersnow (there was none reported or observed anywhere in the region). However, I did get to experience and document a strong lake-effect snow band on I-90 just west of Erie. The core of the band was surprisingly intense with suddenly deteriorating and very low visibilities.

http://wvlightning.com/2006/dec6a9.jpg
http://wvlightning.com/2006/dec6a10.jpg
http://wvlightning.com/2006/dec6a5.jpg
http://wvlightning.com/2006/dec6a6.jpg
http://wvlightning.com/2006/dec6a8.jpg

In the blowing snow outside of bands, there were many snow devils spinning up, and I managed to catch a large but brief one in a field next to the interstate.

http://wvlightning.com/2006/dec6a.jpg
http://wvlightning.com/2006/dec6a1.jpg
http://wvlightning.com/2006/dec6a2.jpg
http://wvlightning.com/2006/dec6a3.jpg

The blowing snow was impressive in itself.

http://wvlightning.com/2006/dec6a4.jpg
http://wvlightning.com/2006/dec6a7.jpg

It looks like the lakes have cooled to the point that even very cold arctic air is not enough to create the instability needed for lightning. It looks like I will have to start my thundersnow chases earlier next year.