Weathering the Lake Effect – Storm Preparedness for Toledo Trees

Lake effect storms, or snowstorms that form off of the Great Lakes, are among the winter weather events known to cause widespread devastation across entire communities. They can dump light snowfall of several inches or cover entire neighborhoods in white.

This phenomenon takes place when cold air passes over relatively warm lake waters and cools as it combines with water vapor in the form of clouds, leading to their formation and precipitation such as rain or snowfall.

Remove Dead or Weak Branches

Dead or weak branches can fall over in heavy winds, making trimming them essential. If you need assistance doing this on your own, professional tree services offer their expertise as an aid. If you need a tree service in Toledo you can visit this company website toledoohtreeservice.com

Weather events also created local “heat islands,” in which urban landscapes heat up quickly, adversely impacting surrounding ecosystems. By adopting green infrastructure strategies, the city hopes to reduce heat islands while simultaneously improving flood storage functions in low-lying areas.

Toledo is strengthening its storm preparation by prioritizing fast response to damaged trees, with plans in place that provide predetermined roles and responsibilities for teams. Goal of this initiative: Making it simpler and faster to restore trees to health quickly following severe weather events will result in long-term benefits to communities by increasing property values and beautifying neighborhoods. An efficient response to storm damage can attract funding from local, state or federal programs supporting restoration and repair efforts. Furthermore, rapid clean-up operations may reduce the costs caused by storm damage – this is particularly true in areas with higher property values.

Monitor Your Trees During Stormy Weather

As the weather turns stormy, it is vital that you monitor your trees and yard for damage. This includes checking for weak trunks or major branches, heaved soil at their bases, holes or cracks in trunks or large branches, dead or decaying branches as well as signs of storm damage. If any signs appear it would be wise to contact an arborist so they can conduct an evaluation and inspection.

On July 4th, heavy winds and lightning storms caused hundreds of tree-related issues throughout northern Ohio, such as downed power lines and fallen trees. According to estimates by the National Weather Service, Toledo alone lost over 5000 trees due to this storm.

Lake-effect snowfall occurs as a result of cold Arctic air moving over bodies of fresh water, cooling it as it moves downwind due to temperature differences between its surface and nearby land, before being uplifted near shore by northerly winds and creating narrow yet intense bands of snowfall. Urban areas can further contribute to lake effect snowstorms by warming air as it passes over them, amplifying snowfall intensity as it travels downstream.

Invest in a Storm Shelter

As winter conditions continue, individuals in Toledo and throughout the region should make sure they are ready for harsh conditions by being equipped with access to a storm shelter.

Storm shelters provide a fortified space to shield family members and pets from debris falling from above, as well as provide protection from elements like high winds, heavy snowfall and dangerously low wind chill temperatures.

Storm shelters can be an invaluable investment for families living in areas affected by lake effect snow, as these shelters are specifically designed to withstand adverse weather conditions and are made of sturdy materials such as aluminum or steel, in order to meet and surpass FEMA’s stringent guidelines for storm shelters.

Lake effect snow occurs when cold, arctic air passes over an unfrozen and relatively mild lake, according to the National Weather Service. As it passes over, its cold air picks up warmth and moisture from the lake surface, producing narrow bands of snowfall that can deposit as much as 2 inches per hour; most heavy accumulation occurs downwind from lakes; as cold air rises and cools as it moves inland it allows snowfall. Industrial emissions, automobile exhaust emissions and natural iodine in lakes all play a part in producing snowstorms by adding extra ice-forming particles into the air.