Lake-Effect Snow in Southern Franklin, New York

Snowfall amounts were generally 6 to 12+ inches with 12 inches in Paul Smiths and Tupper Lake, 11 inches in Saranac Lake and 10 inches in Rainbow Lake.

A favorable wind flow of cold air across Lake Ontario, due to a departing storm in eastern Quebec and high pressure across north-central Canada, allowed for a heavy lake effect snow event east of Lake Ontario. Snow band moved into portions of St. Lawrence and Franklin counties in New York before daybreak on December 12th and exited by the late evening hours. The result was a swath of 8 to 20+ inches across southeast St. Lawrence and southern Franklin counties.