Winter storm stirs up Lake Erie, causes havoc on local roadways

The rage of Lake Erie was on full display this past weekend, culminating in displays of crystallized splendour along the southwestern shoreline of Essex County.

The lake — which had virtually no visible ice prior to January 12 — became a cauldron of frozen froth with the high winds and plummeting temperatures on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The shoreline along Robson Road and Point Pelee Drive in Leamington went from saturated wetness on Friday afternoon to frozen trees, patio furniture and yards on Saturday morning.

As predicted, the storm skirted southern Essex County with snowfall, dumping tons of snow in places like Buffalo New, York, and parts further east. 

Mostly rain hit Leamington, Kingsville and Wheatley on Friday evening, as Windsor got pummeled with snow for several hours.

By Saturday, with dropping temperatures, everything from Friday had frozen into a winter wonderland.

The ferociously high southwesterly winds churned up Lake Erie and produced massive waves along the shoreline, and those winds were sustained through most of the weekend.