The ice cover on the Great Lakes has reached its peak coverage for the winter. You might be a little surprised at how much ice we had on the Great Lakes.

All of the Great Lakes spent some time with more ice than the long-term average for individual dates.

Lake Superior peaked around 15 percent higher than the typical high-ice amount. Lake Superior also spent the least amount of time with ice coverage more than the normal curve. Only about eight days had ice cover above average. At Lake Superior’s peak ice, it was 64.2 percent covered on March 3. You’ll also notice the peak ice was right on schedule with historical norms.

Ice cover on Lake Superior for this winter of 2021-2022

Lake Michigan also had many days with ice amounts above the norm. Lake Michigan’s ice cover peaked on February 14 at 37.5 percent. Once again you’ll notice the peak coming right about when it has in the past. Ice cover is now shrinking on Lake Michigan. With milder temperatures coming after this coming Saturday’s deep freeze, ice cover will continue to shrink.

Ice cover on Lake Michigan for this winter of 2021-2022

Lake Huron was the lake that spent the most days with ice amounts above normal. Lake Huron had above normal ice from late January to late February. It shouldn’t be a surprise. January and February temperatures where colder than average. Lake Huron ice peaked at 67.2 percent February 26.

Ice cover on Lake Huron for this winter of 2021-2022

Lake Erie normally has the most ice cover of any Great Lake. This is due to the lake being the shallowest of all the Great Lakes. Lake Erie was 93.8 percent covered in ice on January 31. The oddity on Lake Erie ice is the coverage peaked almost one month before the usual peak.

Ice cover on Lake Erie for this winter of 2021-2022

On the flip-side, Lake Ontario usually has the least ice cover of the Great Lakes. This year was no exception with a peak ice cover of 29.4 percent on February 6.

The ice is now melting on the Great Lakes. In my checklist of having an “early spring”, early declining ice cover puts a check on the early spring side. I think you will be pleasantly surprised at how quickly this late season bitter cold coming could let up.

We know the sun’s power always wins out. It’s just a different date of victory each year for the sun over the ice.

To see the original post and read related stories, follow this link to the mlive.com website. https://www.mlive.com/weather/2022/03/great-lakes-ice-cover-has-peaked-heres-how-it-measured-up.html