Page 26 - 2010 Lake St. Clair Guide Magazine

Have you noticed when you're out on Lake St. Clair boating and
there are clouds all around the lake, but not over the lake?

Shoreline along St. Clair Shores & Harrison Township

During boating season in general, land warms more quickly some distance away from the Lee shore. As you can see from
than water and gives off more heat during the day. As cold air the satellite photo underneath, the wind is blowing from the
comes in from the lake (it already has moisture from the lake) southwest.
and hits a warm surface, the air begins to rise as it heats up
(warm air rises). As it rises, the air cools and eventually con- In the winter
denses and forms clouds. Conversely, when air temperatures
are cooler in the summer or in the fall, the air mass descends the air is
over the lake. As the cool air drops, it warms up from the water,
and the warming air keeps the water vapor from condensing very dry and
into clouds. As a result, there are no clouds over the lake.
cold. The

water is a bit

warmer and

will put some

The distribution moisture into detTerhme icnloeutdhepwatitnedrndihreelcptsion
the air. This
of clouds around causes clouds
to form over
a lake can help

determine wind

Evaporation direction. If a water. If
from the Great cumulus cloud
Lakes develops pattern exists, there is no
the clouds will
into clouds extend to the up- wind, the
moving East, wind side of the
dropping snow lake and dissipate clouds will hover right where they form, over the water. But

with our steady winds, they move back over land which causes

lake effect snow when that moisture needs to be released back

as they go to land to re-establish the dry-cold equilibrium.

over the cooler

water surface. So, cloud cover over the Great Lakes is greatest during winter
and, conversely, the summertime waters of the Great Lakes
The downwind reduce cloudiness.

side of the lakeshore will be clear, and the clouds will reform

St. Clair County is home Michigan Free
to the world’s longest Fishing Weekends!
freshwater boardwalk.
February 13-14
June 12-13

Have yoofuSbt.eCelnaiurplattoetlyh?e The half-mile walkway These are two special
City overlooks the 33-mile times when all fishing
St. Clair River, and is a license fees will be waived
prime vantage point for residents and outstate
visitors alike on both
for viewing giant ice inland and Great Lakes
flows and ocean
going freighters. waters. All fishing
regulations still apply.

The author, publisher, or seller assumes no liability with respect to the use of information contained herein. Page 26