Michigan
Great Lakes ice expands quickly. Where the most ice is now
The winter ice forecast for the Nice Lakes is out. That is what you possibly can count on
The Nice Lakes winter ice forecast predicts regular ice circumstances, a break from the current pattern of declining ice cowl.
The acute chilly in Michigan this week has triggered ice to broaden quickly throughout the area Great Lakes, with officers reporting the best protection for the 2025-2026 season.
As of Tuesday, Jan. 20, 25.08% of the Nice Lakes had been coated in ice, with Lake Erie recording essentially the most ice at 76.57%, in accordance with the Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration report. Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory.
The thickest ice has shaped on the shores of Lake Superior – 12 to 30 inches in some locations – with Lakes Erie, Michigan and Huron displaying thicknesses of lower than 2 to 12 inches. Though the ice is getting thicker, ice alongside the shoreline is just not thought of protected.
The Arctic temperatures — with chills to minus 35 levels, in accordance with the Nationwide Climate Service, are anticipated to linger in Michigan by the weekend, so the ice will seemingly proceed to broaden over the following week.
Lake Superior is predicted to expertise above-normal ice circumstances this winter. Lake Ontario is forecast to see barely beneath regular ice; and Lakes Huron, Michigan, Erie and St. Clair are forecast to see near-normal ice, in accordance with the North American Ice Service’s seasonal outlookissued on December 1.
Final season, the Nice Lakes skilled near-normal ice ranges after which recovered historic winter low in 2023-2024. Lake Erie recorded the best protection in 2024-25, reaching 95.8% (which is typical as a result of it’s the shallowest of the Nice Lakes) and Lake Superior had the second most protection at its peak, 71.1%.
Because the 2025-2026 ice season continues, researchers will monitor ice charges day by day. To watch progress, the American National Ice Center to tell ice charts each Tuesday and Wednesday.
This is extra ice on Michigan’s Nice Lakes:
How a lot ice is on Michigan’s Nice Lakes?
Nice Lake researchers reported 25.08% protection on Tuesday, January 20, in accordance with the Biweekly updates from the US National Ice Center.
Among the thickest ice – 12-28 inches – in Thunder Bay in Lake Superior, Ontario, Canada, and Ashland, Wisconsin. Greater than a foot of ice has additionally been reported alongside Munuscong Lake, situated within the jap a part of the U.P.
Are the Nice Lakes freezing utterly?
Sure. Though it’s uncommon for the whole lake system to freeze, ice cowl can nonetheless attain 90% or extra.
Based on GLERL information, two lakes have utterly frozen: Lake Superior in 1973 and 1996; and Lake Erie in 1978, 1979 and 1996.
Lake Superior almost froze over – with 92-96% ice cowl – through the 2013-2014 ice season, in accordance with History of Northern Michigan.
When do the Nice Lakes have essentially the most ice?
Most ice cowl happens later within the winter season. Within the decrease lakes, peak ice is seen from mid-February to late February; and for the higher lakes it’s from late February to early March in accordance with the GLERL.
The generally the highest percentage Ice protection of all Nice Lakes occurred in 1979, once they had been 94.7% coated, in accordance with NOAA.
- Lake Superior frozen as soon as since 1973in accordance with NOAA. The lake had 100% ice cowl in 1996.
- Ice cowl in Lake Michigan was 93.2% in 2014.
- Lake Huron had 98.2% ice cowl in 1996.
- Lake Erie froze utterly in 1978, 1979 and 1996.
- Lake Ontario had an ice cowl of 86.2% in 1979.
When does ice kind on common on Michigan’s Nice Lakes?
Based on the NOAA’s GLERLright here is information for 2025:
Extra Michigan
- Earliest date for 2025: December 2
- Deadline for 2025: April 14
- Peak ice cowl date 2025: February 21 at 33.5%
Lake Huron
- Earliest date for 2025: December 2
- Deadline for 2025: Could 8
- Peak date of ice cowl 2025: February 21 at 71.1%
Extra Superior
- Earliest date for 2025: December 2
- Deadline for 2025: Could 11
- Peak ice cowl date 2025: February 21 with 45.6%
Lake Erie
- Deadline for 2025: April 22
- Peak ice cowl date 2025: February 20 at 95.8%
Lake Ontario
- Earliest date for 2025: December 6
- Deadline for 2025: April 19
- Peak ice cowl date 2025: February 20 with 26.1%
Which Nice Lake will get essentially the most ice in winter?
Traditionally, Lake Erie freezes and thaws the quickest as a result of its shallow depth, the shallowest of the Nice Lakes.
The typical depth of Lake Erie is a most of about 18 meters (62 toes), a most of 210 toes – with a shoreline of 1,300 kilometers, the Great Lakes Commission stated.
How deep are the Nice Lakes?
Listed below are the opposite common depths for the Nice Lakes, from deepest to shallowest US Environmental Protection Agency:
- Lake Superior: common depth of 483 toes, most depth at 1,332 toes.
- Lake Michigan: common depth of 279 toes, most 925 toes.
- Lake Ontario: common depth of 283 toes, most depth at 252 toes.
- Lake Huron: common depth of 200 toes and most about 750 toes.
Contact Sarah Moore @ smoore@lsj.com