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Lake Effect Snowbands

Vortices - A Doppler radar animation of a lake effect snow vortex that developed over eastern Lake Michigan and migrated onshore to western Michigan in December 1997 shows the unique structure of such vortices. The vortex has suggestions of a counterclockwise rotation around a central “eye,” with heavy snowbands extending out from the center of the vortex.

Department of Atmospheric Sciences Severe and Hazardous Weather at Department of Atmospheric Sciences University of Illinois