Great Lakes Experience Over 500 Percent Surge in Ice Coverage
Recent cold temperatures have led to a significant rise in ice coverage across the Great Lakes, offering hope for winter weather in Ontario.
Great Lakes, Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Ice Coverage, NOAA
Toronto: It’s been a chilly start to the year, and it’s really showing on the Great Lakes. The cold snap has caused ice coverage to jump dramatically, which is great news for those of us in Ontario.
This ice is super important because it helps reduce lake-effect snow. We’re not quite there yet, but seeing more ice is definitely a step in the right direction.
Just a little while ago, the lakes were barely frozen, starting 2025 with only 1.24 percent ice coverage. But after that cold weather hit, NOAA reported that number shot up to 10.93 percent.
Lake Erie is leading the pack, with nearly a quarter of it covered in ice. Lake Huron isn’t far behind, with over 17 percent frozen. It’s a big change from last year when the lakes were way too warm to freeze properly.
Historically, the average ice coverage for this time of year is around 17 percent, and it usually peaks between 40 and 45 percent by mid-February. So, we’ve got a ways to go, but it’s looking promising.
Shallower lakes like Erie and Huron freeze first, while the deeper ones take longer to cool down. Last winter was rough with record warmth, leading to the lowest ice coverage in over a decade.
So, fingers crossed that this cold weather sticks around and we see even more ice in the coming weeks!