OLYMPUS COVE, Utah (ABC 4 News) - Tuesday the Lake Effect Machine was roaring for a time, and Wednesday morning, snow was even coming in off the south tip of Utah Lake.
But our Lake Effect Snow is a pretty well kept secret, here along the Wasatch front. Normally Lake Effect snow is associated with Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, and Lake Michigan, and in Canada, Lake Superior and Lake Huron, all of course, The Great Lakes. We have a miniature version of it here, sometimes even off Utah Lake at the beginning of the season. The differences in snowfall from place to place can be amazing.
For example, while West Valley had under an inch Tuesday, nearby West Jordan picked up 4" of snow. While it all depends on wind direction, the East Bench is like a Lake Effect Magnet, some towns can pick up 1-2 feet of snow when other areas get just a dusting.
The Lake Effect Capital of the Valley has to be Olympus Cove. (Although there are two more spots that really rake in the snow, Bountiful Bench and South Mountain in Draper) The cold air comes in off the Great Salt Lake, makes it way across the valley, and the moisture squeezes out in this residential area as the air is uplifted just a bit, and caught in the "bowls" against the mountains.
The prime time for Lake Effect snow is early in the season while the temperature can be much colder than the lake. However, like Lake Ontario, since the Great Salt Lake never fully freezes, it can happen at any time in the winter when conditions are just right!
