On Lake Ontario, prevailing SW and W winds are most persistent during which seasons?

The most persistent prevailing winds from the southwest and west on Lake Ontario are typically observed during the summer and winter months. In summer, these winds are associated with the thermal differences created by the warming land and water, contributing to weather patterns and storm systems. At the same time, in winter, prevailing westerly and southwesterly winds can lead to significant lake-effect snow and contribute to the development of cold fronts.

During the fall, while winds can still be variable, the change in temperature and the transition from summer can lead to a decrease in the consistent intensity of these winds. In spring, the prevailing winds may shift more towards easterly directions due to the warming pattern and atmospheric changes, resulting in less persistence of the southwest and west winds. Therefore, the combination of summer and winter winds provides the strongest evidence for the prevalence of southwestern and western winds in these seasons.