Great Lakes ice is nearly gone. Here’s how much is left

• De Grote Meren reached their highest ice cowl in three years on 22 February and reached 52.23%.
• The warming temperatures have led that that proportion shrinks to virtually zero.

With fixed above -frozen temperatures within the area, Great lakes Ice cowl has fallen to lower than 10% since reaching a excessive of greater than 50% in February.

Nice Lakes Ice Protection is at present 9.13%, Noaa stated on Thursday. Lake Erie stays probably the most ice, with a protection of 14.98%, whereas Lake Huron is 14.60%.

The final time that officers registered 9% complete ice protection was on January 17.

On the whole, the Nice Lakes noticed wholesome ice this season, stated civil servants, with 52.23% the Highest coverage This season on February 22.

In the course of the ice season of 2023-24 The highest ice coverage only reached 16.02%A historic low.

The ice season for the massive lakes normally ends at first of March and spring has arrived formally, with 20 March the Spring Equinox.

With the ice that withdrew, Michigan’s Soo locks open early this yr on March 21. The American coast guard Icebreakers have been busy within the St. Marys River who cleans up the approaches of the locks on the beginning of Friday throughout the transport season on the Higher Nice Lakes.

There may be extra in regards to the Nice Lakes and Ice Protection knowledge right here.

How a lot ice does the massive lakes cowl for the time being?

Listed here are the present Ice Sings, from March 20, for the massive lakes, of the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory Day by day updates:

When had been the massive lakes most lined with ice this winter?

On 22 February the Nice Lakes reached 52.23% ice protection, the very best this season.

Earlier than this yr was the final time the Nice Lakes ICE protection reached 50% February 2022 when it hit 56%, Stated Noaa.

How lengthy does the ice season of Nice Lakes normally final?

All large lakes are previous their peak ice coverings.

The height reporting of Michigan’s decrease Nice Lakes is normally mid-February to the top of February, NOAA stated, and the height ice reviews of the Higher Nice Lakes are on the finish of February to the start of March.

What wonderful lake will get probably the most ice within the winter?

Traditionally, Lake Erie freezes the quickest due to the shallow depth, the shallowest among the many nice lakes.

The common depth of Lake Erie is roughly 62 ft 210 ft, most – with 871 miles from shoreline, the Great Lakes Commission stated.

Listed here are the opposite common depths for the massive lakes, from the deepest to probably the most shallow of the US Environmental Protection Agency:

• Lake Superior: 483 ft in common depth, most depth at 1,332 ft.
• Lake Michigan: 279 ft in common depth, as much as a most of 925 ft.
• Lake Ontario: 283 ft in common depth, most depth at 802 ft.
• Lake Huron: 195 ft in common depth and roughly 750 ft at most.

Extra: Warm weather makes ice unsafe. What the Coast Guard says you should know in Michigan

What’s the file report for the Nice Lakes?

The General highest percentage From ice protection for all massive lakes happened in 1979 after they had been 94.7% lined, Noaa stated.

• Lake Superior is as soon as frozen Since 1973In keeping with Noaa. The lake had 100% ice cream cowl in 1996.
• Lake Michigan’s Ice Cowl Excessive was 93.2% in 2014.
• Lake Huron had 98.2% ice cowl in 1996.
• Lake Erie froze fully in 1978, 1979 and 1996.
• Lake Ontario had 86.2% ice cowl in 1979.

Please contact Sarah Moore @ smoore@lsj.com