Lake-Effect Snow
Heavy snow in bands downwind of a large lake as cold air crosses warmer water. Every one the National Weather Service has filed, by year and by state, with the deadliest and costliest.
The deadliest and costliest on the map
The deadliest and costliest lake-effect snow episodes on record.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The record
- Events
- 2,882
- Deaths
- 26
- Injuries
- 42
- Damage
- $295 million
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
Every year
Deaths each year
The deadliest
Deaths from this kind of event within each episode.
- Lake-Effect Snow in New York, November 17 to 19, 2014The epic November 17-19th 2014 lake effect event will be remembered as one of the most significant winter events in Buffalo’s snowy history. Over 5 feet of snow fell over areas just east of Buffalo, with mere inches a few miles away to the north.
- Lake-Effect Snow and Winter Weather in Wisconsin, March 12 to 14, 2017A significant lake effect snowstorm occurred over eastern WI with snowfall totals of 1 to 2 feet. Hundreds of vehicles were involved in accidents and slide-offs including several large chain-reaction accidents on I-41 and I-43 on March 13th.
- Lake-Effect Snow in New York, November 19 to 21, 2014Lake effect snow developed over Eastern Lake Erie and Southern Ontario Wednesday (19) evening on a southwest flow. Cloud to ground lightning was noted near Long Point near the onset of the activity.
- Lake-Effect Snow in New York, November 16 to 21, 2022The incipient lake effect bands formed over far southern Erie County early in the morning hours of Thursday, November 17.
- Lake-Effect Snow in New York, October 12 to 13, 2006Low pressure over Lake Superior brought a westerly flow of unseasonably cold air across western New York. Lake Effect rain began Thursday (10/13/06) morning. By midday the rain began mixing with graupel and thunder and lightning was reported.
- Lake-Effect Snow and Winter Weather in Ohio, November 11 to 12, 2019On November 10, weak low pressure developed across the Upper Midwest, extending a cold front from the Rockies towards the Upper Great Lakes.
- Lake-Effect Snow in Ohio, December 7 to 8, 2006During the morning hours of the 7th, a strong cold front moved through the area bringing a period of synoptic snow to the region. After the cold front moved through, winds shifted to the northwest and then north causing lake effect snow to develop across northeast Ohio.
- Lake-Effect Snow and Winter Weather in Indiana, January 1 to 3, 2012Moderate to heavy lake effect snow developed during the late afternoon and evening hours of January 1st and continued into January 2nd. Total snow accumulations generally ranged between 4 and 12 inches.
- Lake-Effect Snow and Winter Weather in Indiana, December 12, 2017Bands of locally heavy lake effect snow created difficult travel and whiteout conditions on December 12th.
The costliest
Damage from this kind of event within each episode, in the dollars of its year.
- Lake-Effect Snow in New York, October 12 to 13, 2006
- Lake-Effect Snow in New York, November 16 to 21, 2022
- Lake-Effect Snow in Pennsylvania, December 24 to 27, 2017
- Lake-Effect Snow in New York, November 19 to 21, 2014
- Lake-Effect Snow in New York, November 17 to 19, 2014
- Lake-Effect Snow in New York, February 2 to 12, 2007
- Lake-Effect Snow in Ohio, January 1 to 5, 2010
- Lake-Effect Snow in Pennsylvania, November 29 to 30, 2024
- Lake-Effect Snow in Ohio, December 4 to 8, 2010
- Lake-Effect Snow and High Wind in New York, February 16 to 19, 2025
- Lake-Effect Snow in Ohio, December 12 to 15, 2010
- Lake-Effect Snow in Ohio, December 8 to 10, 2016
- Lake-Effect Snow in Ohio, December 14 to 16, 2016
- Lake-Effect Snow in Ohio, February 3 to 4, 2009
- Lake-Effect Snow in Ohio, December 24 to 27, 2017
- Lake-Effect Snow and Winter Weather in Ohio, November 11 to 12, 2019
- Lake-Effect Snow in Ohio, November 29 to 30, 2024
- Lake-Effect Snow in Ohio, January 17 to 19, 2016
- Lake-Effect Snow in Pennsylvania, December 21 to 22, 2008
- Lake-Effect Snow in Pennsylvania, January 1 to 5, 2010
- Lake-Effect Snow in New York, November 17 to 19, 2014
- Lake-Effect Snow in Ohio, November 13 to 14, 2014
- Lake-Effect Snow in Ohio, December 21 to 22, 2008
- Lake-Effect Snow in Pennsylvania, December 4 to 9, 2010
- Lake-Effect Snow in Ohio, October 23 to 25, 2013
By state
Every kind of event
- Thunderstorm Wind
- Hail
- Flash Flood
- High Wind
- Winter Storm
- Drought
- Winter Weather
- Tornado
- Heavy Snow
- Flood
- Marine Thunderstorm Wind
- Heat
- Heavy Rain
- Strong Wind
- Excessive Heat
- Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
- Cold/Wind Chill
- Lightning
- Dense Fog
- Blizzard
- Frost/Freeze
- Ice Storm
- High Surf
- Funnel Cloud
- Wildfire
- Tropical Storm
- Waterspout
- Coastal Flood
- Lake-Effect Snow
- Debris Flow
- Hurricane (Typhoon)
- Dust Storm
- Rip Current
- Storm Surge/Tide
- Marine High Wind
- Sleet
- Avalanche
- Marine Hail
- Astronomical Low Tide
- Marine Tropical Storm
- Tropical Depression
- Freezing Fog
- Lakeshore Flood
- Dust Devil
- Marine Strong Wind
- Dense Smoke
- Marine Hurricane/Typhoon
- Volcanic Ashfall
- Seiche
- Sneakerwave
- Volcanic Ash
- Tsunami
- Marine Tropical Depression
- Marine Dense Fog
- Northern Lights
- Marine Lightning
- Hurricane
Sources
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24.