They are done by David Robinson of Rutgers University, who uses NOAA satellite data to calculate the figures. During the winter of 1998-99, Washington's Mt. Baker set a new U.S. annual snowfall record . The record is also being recognized as a world record. Probability of a white Christmas for the USA Places along the Great Lakes receive more snow than most other parts of the East. The cause is lake effect snow, which can sometimes fall as lightning flashes.
Many storms spread rain, ice, and snow over the USA during winter.
A text and graphic explain the situations that lead to the different forms of precipitation For details about how to accurately measure snowfall, read the National Weather Service's Snow Measurement Guidelines on the Web. When conditions are right, cones of ice can orm on the edge of ice along the shores of large lakes, such as the Great Lakes of the USA and Canada. The form where the ice is building out into the lake. The Web site below has more information and photos of ice volcanoes.