A rare "snownado" was spotted over Lake Erie Friday as the Buffalo region continues to be bombarded with lake-effect snow in what could become a record-setting storm.
The weather phenomena, similar to a waterspout, but with frozen precipitation, was spotted just after 8:30 a.m. by storm chaser Simon Brewer, who estimated it was about a mile off the coast of downtown Buffalo.
"Was close enough & clear enough can confirm it was a waterspout by definition," Brewer tweeted, adding that he watched it rotate from the Erie Basin marina.
Comment: More on the lake-effect storm. A view of the snownado starts at 2:05:
Mark Brown The Guardian Fri, 18 Nov 2022 19:13 UTC
Schools have closed, roads left impassable and rail journeys heavily disrupted as heavy rain drenched parts of Scotland.
Elsewhere in the UK, rivers burst their banks, sometimes trapping drivers, after the torrential downpours on Thursday.
A Met Office amber weather warning, the second-highest, was in place until 9pm covering an area that included Aberdeen, Stonehaven, Montrose and the eastern Cairngorms.
Forecasters warned communities could be cut off, homes and businesses flooded and there was a "danger to life from fast-flowing or deep flood water". Parts of the Grampians and Cairngorms could expect to have more than 150mm of rain with areas around Inverurie, Brechin and Ballater particularly badly affected.
A dangerous lake-effect snowstorm paralyzed parts of western and northern New York, with more than a foot of snow already on the ground Friday morning in places and a driving ban keeping people off the roads in the Buffalo area.
The heaviest snowfall was expected in Buffalo, where the National Weather Service said up to 4 feet might fall in some spots through Sunday, with periods of near-zero visibility. Other areas could get a foot or less of the lake-effect snow, which is caused by frigid air picking up copious amounts of moisture from the warmer lakes.
Reports to the weather service early Friday exceeded a foot of snow along the eastern end of Lake Erie, with totals as high as 20 inches in Hamburg, N.Y., about 12 miles from Buffalo.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency Thursday for parts of western New York, including communities along the eastern ends of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. It covers 11 counties, with commercial truck traffic banned from a stretch of Interstate 90.
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz issued a driving ban beginning Thursday night, shortly after heavy snow punctuated by thunder and lightning -- known as "thunder snow" -- moved into Buffalo, quickly covering the ground and roads. The most intense snowfall was expected to last through Friday evening, with more falling on Saturday into Sunday.
Jackson Hole is a mecca for skiers and snowboarders from around the world. With winter weather pummeling the region, the increasing amount of fresh powder on the slopes is music to the ears of staff at the three ski resorts in Jackson - Snow King, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and Grand Targhee.
Jake Zatz with Hoback Mountain Sports in Jackson said some parts of the mountain have already received 3 feet of snow.
"It's been a great start to the season," he told Cowboy State Daily. "Obviously, the resorts aren't really open yet, but the stoke is definitely high."
VILLAGERS in the Ndimimbili area under Chief Mabhikwa in Lupane, Matabeleland North province were left shocked after a bolt of lightning fatally struck a man and his daughter leaving his wife with serious burns.
The incident happened on 13 November while the now deceased Evans Moyo (22), his wife Nomatter Moyo (23) and their three-year-old daughter were in the kitchen having supper.
A source said Moyo's daughter was sitting next to him when a bolt of lightning struck him.
Snow continued to fall across parts of the Northland on Wednesday morning as a three-day snow event continued to add up, with two feet already fallen in parts of the Arrowhead region.
The heaviest snow totals came from the higher hills above Lake Superior's North Shore, including a report of 24 inches of snow since Monday at Lax Lake a few miles outside Silver Bay, 21 inches in Finland, 20 inches on the Gunflint Trail and 19.7 inches near Grand Marais.
The National Weather Service in Duluth posted a winter storm warning for Lake County's portion of the North Shore, where up to 8 additional inches were possible Wednesday, and a winter weather advisory for the Cook County's portion of the North Shore for another 1-3 inches of additional snow.
Light snow could continue into Thursday for much of the Northland before skies begin to clear and temperatures drop for the weekend.
Wombaticus Reeves had to be careful on the steps this morning near Vinces Saddle.
Just days after southern Tasmania experienced its first taste of summer, the region is being slammed by wild weather, with heavy rain forecast and snow settling at higher altitudes.
Tasmania Police said snow had settled at Vinces Saddle on the Huon Highway, about 200 metres lower than initially forecast.
Parts of kunanyi/Mt Wellington have also experienced snowfall.
Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Michael Conway said snow was possible in elevated parts across the warning areas, including the south and south-east, lower east coast, southern midlands and central plateau.
He said this was likely to cause cooler temperatures throughout the morning.
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Comment: More on the lake-effect storm. A view of the snownado starts at 2:05: