lake effect
noun
: a meteorological phenomenon in which warm moist air rising from a body of water mixes with cold dry air overhead resulting in precipitation especially downwind
—usually hyphenated when used attributively
lake-effect snows
Examples of lake effect in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Visibility and road conditions may change rapidly over short distances in lake effect snow.
—
Anna Commander, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
This will once again trigger the lake effect snow in the Great Lakes by the middle of the week, and 1 to 2 feet of snow is possible off lakes Erie and Ontario by the end of the week.
—Elisa Raffa, CNN, 10 Dec. 2024
After a collection of lake effect and snow squalls last week, followed by warming temperatures, here's what the weather in the mitten state may look like this week.
—Jalen Williams, Detroit Free Press, 9 Dec. 2024
The snow was driven by what's known as lake effect, a phenomena in which moisture-laden air drops heavy snow in some places downwind from large bodies of water while other areas receive almost nothing.
—Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY, 4 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lake effect 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Anna Commander, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
This will once again trigger the lake effect snow in the Great Lakes by the middle of the week, and 1 to 2 feet of snow is possible off lakes Erie and Ontario by the end of the week.
—Elisa Raffa, CNN, 10 Dec. 2024
After a collection of lake effect and snow squalls last week, followed by warming temperatures, here's what the weather in the mitten state may look like this week.
—Jalen Williams, Detroit Free Press, 9 Dec. 2024
The snow was driven by what's known as lake effect, a phenomena in which moisture-laden air drops heavy snow in some places downwind from large bodies of water while other areas receive almost nothing.
—Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY, 4 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lake effect
Dictionary Entries Near lake effect
Cite this Entry
“Lake effect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lake%20effect. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share