THE LAKE-ONTARIO WINTER STORMS (LOWS) PROJECT

Snowstorms generated over the Great Lakes bring localized heavy precip itation, blizzard conditions, and whiteouts to downwind shores. Hazard ous freezing rain often affects the same region in winter. Conventiona l observations and numerical models generally are resolved too coarsel y to allow detection or accurate prediction of these mesoscale severe weather phenomena. The Lake Ontario Winter Storms (LOWS) project was c onducted to demonstrate and evaluate the potential for real-time mesos cale monitoring and location-specific prediction of lake-effect storms and freezing rain, using the newest of available technologies. LOWS e mployed an array of specialized atmospheric remote sensors (a dual-pol arization short wavelength radar, microwave radiometer, radio acoustic sounding system, and three wind profilers) with supporting observing systems and mesoscale numerical models. An overview of LOWS and its in itial accomplishments is presented.