Warming Great Lakes Drive Intensifying Snowstorms and Extended Winter Risks

Scientists warn that climate change is fueling stronger lake-effect snowstorms, with warmer waters and reduced ice cover creating conditions for prolonged and severe snowfall events.

• Recent storms in Ontario's snowbelt, including a record-breaking 140 cm snowfall in Gravenhurst, highlight the growing intensity of lake-effect snowstorms.
• Climate scientists attribute these changes to warming Great Lakes, which provide more heat and moisture for Arctic air masses, amplifying snowfall severity.
• Reduced ice cover on the Great Lakes, linked to warmer winters, allows snowstorms to persist later into the season than in previous decades.
• Experts caution that fluctuating winter temperatures could lead to a shift from heavy snow to increased rainfall, raising the risk of winter flooding.
• Communities like Gravenhurst are reassessing storm preparedness, with local officials planning debriefs and reports to better manage future extreme weather events.

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