Paul Tomblin wrote:
Any more experienced Great Lakes area pilots able to answer some questions
about lake effect snow?

1. When there are bands of lake effect snow across your path:
- how high up do they go?

Highly variable depending on winds, temperature, general instability. I
encountered icing downwind of Lake Erie a few years ago at 11,000 feet.
Winds at that altitude were about 60 knots if memory serves.


- how much ice do they produce?

Loads. I picked up between 1.5" and 2" in less than 20 minutes.


2. What about if the band is covering the airport? Fly the approach or
wait?

Again, probably not one answer for all situations. If I couldn't get a
recent pirep, I'd go somewhere else. And even with a recent pirep, I'd
strongly consider going somewhere else.


Since there are bands of lake effect snow almost continually from now
until March between here and anywhere I want to go, should I give up any
dreams of flying IFR during the winter?

No. When it is cold enough, less than 20F or so, the snow is typically
quite dry and won't adhere to the airframe. I have had it once build up
enough static to block radio transmissions, but that was fixed shortly
after that with a static wick kit. The main thing is to be cautious
when between 25 and 34 or thereabouts (adding a little margin for
thermometer error).


Matt