Hail Spike in Lake Effect?

[David Dildine]

This arctic outbreak is causing a nice lake effect streamer over the tug in upstate NY. This reflectivity came back a few runs ago from Watertown's radar. Is this return indicative of graupel or hailfall from this squall? Anyone have any resources for convective lake effect snows and past events?

 

[Skip Talbot]

Isn't that just a sunset return given the time of day and the angle?

 

[Chris Allington]

Isn't that just a sunset return given the time of day and the angle?

It looks like that to me too.

 

[Rocky Rascovich]

If you notice, most radars around the country have the same effect with the sun, especially where terrain is flat in nearby areas.

 

[Brian Russ]

Hey everyone!! I'm right now at home in Mexico(Oswego County)where
we are directly under this snow band. I thought I'd point out an interesting
anomaly that showed up on the KTYX radar viewed in relative motion.

http://www.erh.noaa.gov/buf/lakeffect/lake0809/mesovort.html

There is an actual vortex being picked up on the returns.

I've been out of town and although I'm sure nothing would have been
visible,I would have like to have been here when that went through.
It looks to have passed right over my area here. It even shows up on
the base reflectivity.

If something like this were to happen,Eastern Lake Ontario would be definitely the place where it would happen.

*PS* I just spoke with my cousin and he said that the sky turned abnormally dark earlier in the afternoon.

 

[mikegeukes]

Looks like a sunrise/sunset spike.

 

[David Dildine]

That is awesome! I've heard tales of lake effect waterspouts from intense bands. Wish I could have been up there for this one.

 

[rdale]

David - this was not a hail event, it was a sunset spike. You can see one twice a day on every radar in the country, it's nothing related to the weather or lake effect.

 

[Chris Foltz]

...it was a sunset spike. You can see one twice a day on every radar in the country...

Not sure about Michigan but most places I know only have one sunset each day. BTW, one occurs at sunrise as well and that's obviously what you meant but just not what you said. Sorry, just couldn't resist...

 

[rdale]

Good catch... And to get even more technical - you can see them on different tilts - so more than one per event per radar

 

[Mark A. Thornton]

David:

This page from my website explains the sun spike phenomena.