• Happy 3rd Moon Landing, Apollo 14 (1971)! 🚀👨‍🚀🌕

Great Lakes ice coverage - Winter 2026

That chart Glenn posted is a clear indicator of just how cold it's been here in central NYS this winter. We've had two weeks now of zero or colder temperatures overnight; and even during the day at times. While the cold has been difficult at times, the intensity of the winds has made it all the worse. You can feel your strength being sucked right out of you some days when the wind is really cranking.

That's all for now. Take care and until next time...be well (and stay warm!)

snapper
 
Very interesting. I wonder how the ice coverage will affect the Spring thaw.

In SW MI the effect will be small. Pic shows the St Joseph River a few days ago, just a few miles upstream of Lake Michigan where there's shore ice about 1/2 mile deep so it looks pretty hopeless. But I expect the river to be open in a week or two max....shortly after daytimes temps go above freezing. The shore ice on The Lake is largely unattached and most of it will leave quickly when temps go above freezing and the prevailing winds shift. It doesn't take much melting to push the river level above the ice level and then it opens up pretty quickly. Given that we've had significant snowfall this winter it looks like it may be a normal thaw which means cold water and strong current.20260129_172547.jpg
 
Back
Top Bottom