We had a nor-easter the other day which brought high winds, gusting to nearly 40 mph, and swirling wind. Interestingly the snow accumulated on the western side of the trees. I have never seen such a thing in my entire life. I asked around for an explanation and the best was that the trees acted like a leading edge of a plane's wing and created a "vacuum" effect on the opposite side of the wind. As a scientist and keen observer of nature, I have no idea why I was never aware of this, and why, the meteorologist said that no one has ever asked this question before.
Hang on, i just received an email from a meteorologist at Rutgers University:
"I assume you are talking about the snow on March 14. Actually, the winds were from the WNW that day, so the snow was indeed on the windward side of the trees. This noreaster had already passed us (and was stalled out over New England) by the time the snow was falling. We did have the customary NE winds (and some rain) on the 13th as the storm approached."
It made a good story though, I am awaiting other confirmation about the change in wind.
