Great Lakes Ice Cover at Historic Low

Our warmer-than-average winter continues to be reflected in the vast amount of open water on the Great Lakes.

The latest report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows Lake Superior’s ice cover at just 9 percent. The 50-year average for mid-February is 38 percent.

The other Great Lakes are similarly ice-challenged. Lake Huron is at 19 percent coverage – mostly in the large-but-shallow Saginaw and Georgian Bays. It’s usually 49 percent covered in mid-February. Lake Michigan is at just 10 percent – mostly in Green Bay. Lakes Erie and Ontario are just 3 percent covered – Erie is typically 68 percent frozen this time of year.

Overall, there’s just 10 percent ice cover on the lakes right now, compared to the 50-year average of 40 percent.