Rocky Rascovich
EF4
Earlier thismorning I tuned into the NOAA Wx radio like I usually do and heard the current conditions report, snow was reported for a couple of hours at TUL. I thought that this was interesting because I was not expecting any snow.. no forecasted disturbances coming through as the arctic high took full control.
Checking out the current analysis and reading the forecast discussions from the region was an eye opener from the TUL NWS where they were talking about lake effect snow flurries, mostly caused from Lake Oologah which is about 30-40mi. north north east of Tulsa. Apparently this lake created a plume of snowshowers which was affecting areas all the way into Tulsa.
Coming from an area that's all to well familiar with lake effect (The Keweenaw Peninsula in Upper Mich.) I know how Lake Superior and the other great lakes influence weather, I know that even smaller lakes like Mille Lacs in MN. can create a minor "lake effect" but... Oologah here in Okla.? Apparently this has been happening around Grand Lake as well which is a little bigger I think.
The question is.. just how big does a lake have to be to trigger "lake effect"?
I know obviously the lack of ice coverage and delta T's (difference between surface water temp. and air temp. at a certain level above the water source) would be important factors in setting the stage for that kind of event. Would a lake even as small as Lake Hefner or Overholser here in OKC trigger lake effect? I could learn a little more about this so feedback would be welcome.
Checking out the current analysis and reading the forecast discussions from the region was an eye opener from the TUL NWS where they were talking about lake effect snow flurries, mostly caused from Lake Oologah which is about 30-40mi. north north east of Tulsa. Apparently this lake created a plume of snowshowers which was affecting areas all the way into Tulsa.
Coming from an area that's all to well familiar with lake effect (The Keweenaw Peninsula in Upper Mich.) I know how Lake Superior and the other great lakes influence weather, I know that even smaller lakes like Mille Lacs in MN. can create a minor "lake effect" but... Oologah here in Okla.? Apparently this has been happening around Grand Lake as well which is a little bigger I think.
The question is.. just how big does a lake have to be to trigger "lake effect"?
I know obviously the lack of ice coverage and delta T's (difference between surface water temp. and air temp. at a certain level above the water source) would be important factors in setting the stage for that kind of event. Would a lake even as small as Lake Hefner or Overholser here in OKC trigger lake effect? I could learn a little more about this so feedback would be welcome.
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