Lake Effect

There is nothing on the radar.  No blue, green, yellow or pink for that matter.  Despite that fact lake effect snow still falls after the second major snow storm of the season.  While the heavier-hit regions to the south of us have already shoveled themselves out; Lake Superior- for the third straight day- graces us with a not-so-subtle dose of lake effect. The low pressure system that brought this storm is well to the east of the upper Midwest.  However, the counter-clockwise rotation of such a system is pushing relatively cold air over the warmer air of Lake Superior.  This temperature difference creates instability which convects moisture into the atmosphere.  The greater the difference in temperature, the more moisture goes aloft.  The farther the air travels over the water (i.e. the bigger the lake), the more moisture goes up too.  Once this precipitation-laden air mass confronts colder air (relative to the lake) of the landmass the precipitation falls as snow.  This effect is exaggerated by the hills of the north shore.  Just like a mountain range, the higher up you go the the colder the air and the more snow is freed from the air.  This is known as the orographic effect.  On the ground we barely have six inches.  However, you never know how long these events last.  It all depends on how slowly the pressure system takes to move eastward.

The last few days have been a roller coaster of a ride.  First, Penelope started to crawl.  Her nudging around on the floor has given way to a full-fledged army crawl.  The reality that she is mobile struck us.  Unfortunately within hours of her triumph something else struck us and we all came down the the stomach flu.  All three of us!  We have spent the last 48 hours in complete disarray and completely oblivious to the storm outside. It was the first time that we have dealt with a sick child.  It has been nerve racking at times but an essential lesson in parenthood nonetheless. 

Outside the snow is elegantly falling.  Chickadees are going to town on our sunflower feeder.  Inside I find myself typing one handed.  The other is holding Penelope as she sleeps on my chest.  The dog is sleeping at my feet.  My fire is dying as I don't dare to disturb the resting and recovering child to add birch to the dwindling flames.  Christmas tree lights illuminate the otherwise drab light of the overcast day.  Jazz plays in the background.  I'm sipping my first cup of coffee in days; thoughts lost in the lake effect...