Some Lake Effect Forecast tools

Lake Effect Help: http://www.meted.ucar.edu/norlat/snow/lake_effect/

Upper Air data help page: http://weather.unisys.com/upper_air/details.html

http://www.ua.nws.noaa.gov/factsheet.htm

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/bmx/upperair/radiosnd.html

http://www.rap.ucar.edu/weather/info/index.php?referrer=upper

Current GOES

http://hadar.cira.colostate.edu/ramsdis/online/f5_8_0.html

http://www.goes.noaa.gov/

850 mb wind direction and Temp---current

http://www.rap.ucar.edu/weather/upper/

http://weather.unisys.com/upper_air/ua_850.html

850 mb forecasts:

RUC: http://weather.unisys.com/ruc/ruc_850_4panel.html

NGM: http://weather.unisys.com/ngm/4panel/ngm_850_4panel.html

Lake Superior surface temperature

http://www.coastwatch.msu.edu/Superior/s.html

Booy data: http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/maps/WestGL.shtml

fetch length---use Google Earth and measuring tools with wind direction

opposing bay?---use Google Earth and measuring tools with wind direction

Inversion layer height: radiosondes

International Falls:

http://www.rap.ucar.edu/weather/upper/inl.gif

Pickle Lake

http://www.rap.ucar.edu/weather/upper/cwpl.gif

Minneapolis

http://www.rap.ucar.edu/weather/upper/mpx.gif

Synoptic patterns

http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/

http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/html/sfcloop/radsfcus_exp_test.html

topographic lift factor:

The maximum elevation of the Keweenaw is about 1466 ft asl and for the UP about 2000 ft asl. For any specific site you should take the elevation in feet and subtract 600 (lake level)

wind shear evidence: Use Inversion layer radiosondes

upstream lake: Use Google Earth and wind direction plus ice cover

upstream moisture factor: Use 850 mb maps for upstream dewpoints

Cyclonic curvature: Look at 850 mb maps

snow/ice cover issues:

http://www.natice.noaa.gov/pub/Great_Lakes/5_Lake_Composite/West_Composite/

Case study:

http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/arch/cases/961109/home.rxml