By Paul Huttner of Minnesota Public Radio - February 7, 2018

Ice cover on the Great Lakes is at the highest point in four years. 50.6 percent of the Great Lakes is now ice covered according to NOAA.

That’s the highest level of ice cover on the Great Lakes in four years, according to the Canadian Ice Service.

Canadian Ice Service

Lake Superior is now sporting 54.7 percent ice cover. That’s also the highest level in four years. Last year Lake Superior had just 4.1 percent ice cover on this date.

It turns out small shifts in winter temperatures of only about 3 to 4 degrees can make the difference between little ice and lakes completely ice covered.