Cookie Control

This site uses cookies to store information on your computer.

Some cookies on this site are essential, and the site won't work as expected without them. These cookies are set when you submit a form, login or interact with the site by doing something that goes beyond clicking on simple links.

We also use some non-essential cookies to anonymously track visitors or enhance your experience of the site. If you're not happy with this, we won't set these cookies but some nice features of the site may be unavailable.

By using our site you accept the terms of our Privacy Policy.

(One cookie will be set to store your preference)
(Ticking this sets a cookie to hide this popup if you then hit close. This will not store any personal information)

"Great Lakes Ice Cover Plummets To Record Mid-February Low"

"In the midst of an unusually warm winter across much of the northern United States and southern Canada, the Great Lakes now have the least ice cover on record for the middle of February, which is typically when the ice begins to reach its maximum extent for the season.

As of Feb. 15, ice covered only 6 percent of the Great Lakes, compared with a historical average for the date of 41 percent, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory. The previous record low for Feb. 15 was 7.8 percent in 2012.

This winter’s lack of ice — part of a longer-term decline in Great Lakes ice coverage tied to human-caused climate change — could have implications across and downwind of the lakes not just for the rest of this winter and the coming spring and summer, but all the way into next winter.

“There have been significant downward trends in lake ice for many years. This year is a continuation of warming winters and declining ice,” University of Michigan climate researcher Richard Rood said in an email. “The downward trend has been punctuated by some years of high ice coverage, related to cold air outbreaks.”"

Dan Stillman reports for the Washington Post February 17, 2023.

Source: Washington Post, 02/17/2023