... Lake Effect Snow on Earth . ... Credit: SeaWiFS Project , NASA Explanation: What are those strange clouds stretching out from these lakes? The clouds are caused by cold air moving over a warm water and result in bands of lake-effect snow . The rising bands of moistened, warmed air that drop lake-effect snow alternate with clear bands of falling cold air. ... During this lake-effect snowfall of 2000 December 5, practically all of the state of Michigan , USA got covered. ... Earth at Twilight . ...