ice cover

A warm spell in February meant record low ice coverage on the Great Lakes at the end of last winter.

A study in the journal Science outlines the many consequences of the loss of ice on lakes because of climate change. Fishing, cultural activities, transportation, water quality, and greenhouse gas releases are all consequences of the loss of lake ice coverage.

Michigan's climate is changing, meaning winters will include more rain and mud, less snow and ice. That's a threat to time-honored traditions such as ice fishing, dog sledding, cross-country skiiing, snowmobiling, and playing in the snow.

Historical average ice cover for the Great Lakes in mid-February is 40-45%; the current ice cover on the Great Lakes is just 2.9%.

There was less ice cover on the Great Lakes on New Year's Day, 2024, than any other New Year's Day over the past 50 years. But experts say that doesn't tell us nearly as much as the average maximum ice coverage over that same time period.

The Great Lakes have been slow to freeze this year, compared to years past. Currently, around 2.4% of the Great Lakes are covered by ice, concentrated in…