Alake effect snow watch was a bulletin issued by theNational Weather Service in theUnited States to warn of heavysnowfall amounts that will be possible from convective snow generated by coldair masses passing over unfrozen lakes (lake effect snow). The criteria for amounts may vary over differentcounty warning areas.
On October 2, 2017, issuance of the Lake Effect Snow Watch has been discontinued, and awinter storm watch is now issued when the above criteria are expected to be met.[1]
MNZ020-037-181845-/O.NEW.KDLH.LE.A.0004.081219T0600Z-081220T0600Z/SOUTHERN LAKE/LAKESHORE-CARLTON/SOUTHERN ST. LOUIS-443 AM CST THU DEC 18 2008...LAKE EFFECT SNOW WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGHFRIDAY EVENING...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DULUTH HAS ISSUED A LAKE EFFECTSNOW WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAYEVENING.)LAKE EFFECT SNOW WILL DEVELOP AROUND MIDNIGHT TONIGHT...AND LASTTHROUGH MUCH OF FRIDAY AND INTO FRIDAY EVENING. THE HEAVIEST OFTHE SNOW WILL FALL ALONG THE HIGHER TERRAIN FROM DULUTH TO SILVERBAY...WHERE THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR UP TO 8 INCHES IN ISOLATEDAREAS. THE HEAVIEST OF THE SNOW LOOKS TO FALL EARLY FRIDAY MORNINGAROUND THE TIME OF THE MORNING COMMUTE.A LAKE EFFECT SNOW WATCH MEANS THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR HEAVYACCUMULATION OF LAKE-EFFECT SNOW. TRAVEL AND COMMERCE MAY BESIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED. YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO STAY CURRENT WITHTHE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION REGARDING THIS DEVELOPING WINTERSTORM VIA LOCAL TELEVISION...RADIO...THE INTERNET...OR NOAAWEATHER RADIO.$$LONKA