Great Lakes see fast ice growth. Here’s how close they are to freezing over

After a deep freeze within the Nice Lakes area, Lake Erie has virtually utterly frozen over and the protection of the remainder of the lakes has elevated considerably.

Researchers reported on Sunday, January 25, that the Nice Lakes had been 43.18% frozen – a rise of about 18 share factors from final week. The soar coincides with a wave of Arctic air that began shifting on Thursday, January 22, based on the Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration report. Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory.

Lake Erie was virtually frozen over than at 92% coverage. The ice ranged from 5 to 30 centimeters, with the thickest alongside the shoreline. Lake Huron was 51.61% covered, researchers mentioned.

The thickest ice has fashioned alongside the Lake Superior shoreline – 12 to 24 inches in some locations – with Lakes Erie, Michigan and Huron reporting thicknesses of lower than 2 to 12 inches.

Arctic temperatures are forecast to final by the work week in Michigan, so the ice will seemingly proceed to broaden.

Lake Superior is anticipated 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, based on 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 very 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 each day. To observe 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 43.18% protection on Sunday, January 25, based on the Biweekly updates from the US National Ice Center.

In keeping with the thickness chart of the middle, the thickest ice – 12-28 inches – is discovered alongside the north shore of Lake Superior, close to Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, and the southwestern shore close to Ashland, Wisconsin. As well as, thick ice continues to develop alongside Munuscong Lake, situated within the jap a part of the UP

Which Nice Lake has essentially the most ice cowl?

Right here is the ice cowl for every Nice Lake as of January 25:

• Lake St Clair: 99.90%
• Lake Erie: 92.15%
• Lake Huron: 51.61%
• Extra Michigan: 31.25%
• Extra Superior: 30.44%
• Lake Ontario: 24.57%

Are the Nice Lakes freezing utterly?

Sure. Though it’s uncommon for your entire lake system to freeze, ice cowl can nonetheless attain 90% or extra.

In keeping with 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 – throughout the 2013-2014 ice season, based on 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 based on the GLERL.

The generally the highest percentage Ice protection of all Nice Lakes occurred in 1979, once they had been 94.7% lined, based on NOAA.

• Lake Superior frozen as soon as since 1973based on 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.

Extra: Icicles hanging in your house? Why that is a foul factor

When does ice kind on common on Michigan’s Nice Lakes?

In keeping with 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 mentioned.

How deep are the Nice Lakes?

Listed here 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