Lake-Effect Snowstorms in Northern Utah and Western New York with and without Lightning

Abstract

Lake-effect snowstorms in northern Utah and western New York with and without lightning/thunder are examined. Lake-effect snowstorms with lightning have significantly higher temperatures and dewpoints in the lower troposphere and significantly lower lifted indices than lake-effect snowstorms without lightning. In contrast, there is little difference in dewpoint depressions between events with and without lightning. Surface-to-700-hPa temperature differences (a surrogate for lower-tropospheric lapse rate) for events with and without lightning differ significantly for events in northern Utah, but not for those in western New York. Nearly all events have no convective available potential energy, regardless of the presence of lightning. These results are discussed in the context of current models of storm electrification.