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
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.
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 

Word History

First Known Use

1951, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lake effect was in 1951

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 22 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!