“Lake effect” snow in northern Alabama
Wheeler Lake is a reservoir along the Tennessee River in northern Alabama. The Aqua MODIS Sea Surface Temperature product (above) showed that water temperatures along the axis of the lake were as warm as the lower 50s F (cyan color enhancement) on 07 February 2016.Following the passage of a strong cold front on 08 February, the northwesterly flow of air with surface temperatures in the 30s F on 09 February allowed for a narrow “lake effect” (or in this case, river effect) snow band to form over Wheeler Lake, which created accumulating snowfall to the southeast (downwind) of the lake. This lake effect snow band could be seen in a RealEarth composite of Suomi NPP VIIRS / Aqua MODIS true-color Red/Green/Blue (RGB) images and radar reflectivity (below). The lake effect plume began to shift northward during the afternoon hours, as surface winds briefly backed to a more westerly direction.
![Suomi NPP VIIRS and Aqua MODIS true-color images, combined with radar refectivity [click to enlarge]](https://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/satellite-blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/02/160209_modis_viirs_AL_LES_anim.gif)
Suomi NPP VIIRS and Aqua MODIS true-color images, combined with radar refectivity [click to enlarge]