Why is it called the 'lake effect snow machine'?

CLEVELAND — Polar air will be barreling across the Great Lakes on Sunday.

Northeast Ohio’s famous “lake effect snow machine” will switch on once again — a familiar phrase for a powerful and often unpredictable winter weather process.

The term “lake effect snow machine” describes how Lake Erie acts almost like a weather factory, churning out bands of heavy snow when conditions are just right. When frigid air sweeps across the relatively warmer lake surface, the air picks up moisture and heat.

This moist air rolls over land and cools rapidly, condensing into thick snow clouds.

Meteorologists call it a “machine” because once the setup begins, it can run for hours or even days. If wind continues to blow across the lake and the air aloft remains cold enough, the process keeps recycling. S