(WLUK) — If you live near the Great Lakes, you have to prepare for the unpredictable and often dramatic lake effect snow. This weather phenomenon can cover one area with meters of snow, while another area just a few kilometers away remains barely pollinated.

The process begins when winds from the west or northwest bring cold air across the Great Lakes. As this cold air flows over the warmer lake water, warm, moist air rises and collides with the cold air, forming clouds. These clouds can develop into narrow bands that produce heavy snowfall, resulting in significant snow accumulation in some areas while leaving others relatively untouched.

Earlier this week, parts of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula were buried under about 30 inches of snow, while parts of New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania received nearly 60 inches of snow. To put that in perspective, Packers quarterback Jordan Love, who stands 76 inches tall, would find the snow reaching near his shoulders.

Despite the challenges, many residents are happy about the snow conditions. Justin Grandjean, a resident of Watertown, New York, said, “I love it. I’m ready for ice fishing. Ready to watch. Everyone is going crazy. I mean, people up here, when it snows, they all forget how to drive and “It’s fun to watch as I was born and raised up here. I love the snow.

Jeremiah Walts, another Watertown resident, said, “My kids really enjoy it and I have a lot of fun with them out here.”

For those who live near the Great Lakes, lake effect snow is not just a weather event, but a way of life.