{"id":3074,"date":"2023-03-16T05:12:02","date_gmt":"2023-03-16T04:12:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lakebeyond.com\/?p=3074"},"modified":"2023-03-16T05:12:02","modified_gmt":"2023-03-16T04:12:02","slug":"how-much-of-lake-michigan-freezes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lakebeyond.com\/how-much-of-lake-michigan-freezes\/","title":{"rendered":"How much of lake michigan freezes?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ice cover on Lake Michigan has been decreasing over the past few decades. In the 1970s, the lake was frozen about 60% of the time. As of 2015, it only freezes about 30% of the time.<\/p>\n

The answer to this question depends on a number of factors, including the air temperature, the amount of snowfall, and the lake’s currents. In general, however, it is safe to say that a good portion of Lake Michigan freezes over every winter.<\/p>\n

How much of Lake Michigan is ice covered? <\/h2>\n

Ice cover on Lake Michigan typically peaks in mid-February, so there is still some time to reach our seasonal average. The average for this far into winter is about 22%. The highest ice concentration ever recorded on Lake Michigan was 931% in 2014, whereas the lowest was 124% in 2002.<\/p>\n

In records dating from the middle 1800s, even in the coldest winters, Lake Michigan has never completely frozen over. It has been as much as 90 percent or more ice-covered in 1903-04, 1976-77, 1978-79, 1998-99 and 2013-14.<\/p>\n

Do the Great Lakes completely freeze over <\/h3>\n
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From the data it seems that Lake Superior is the most likely to freeze over completely, followed by Lake Erie. Lake Michigan is the least likely to freeze over, but it is worth noting that it has come close several times.<\/p>\n

Ice pancakes form when freshwater freezes over and the ice becomes thick enough to pancake. The process begins when the water droplets in the air freeze and form ice crystals. These ice crystals then fall to the ground and join together to form a pancake.<\/p>\n

How cold is the deepest part of Lake Michigan? <\/h2>\n

The water at the bottom of the deep pocket of Lake Michigan is still 39 degrees to 40 degrees. This is due to the high density of the water at that depth which prevents the heat from escaping.<\/p>\n

As a general rule of thumb, ice is safe to walk on when there is 4 inches or more of clear ice. It is important to understand that different types of ice vary in their strength. Clear blue or black ice is the strongest. This ice is formed from the lake water freezing.<\/p>\n

Can you walk across Lake Michigan in the winter? <\/h2>\n
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The ice balls that form on Lake Michigan are a natural phenomenon that have been happening for centuries. While they may look harmless, they can be dangerous to cross. The ice is often unstable and can break, leaving people stranded or worse. So, if you’re ever thinking about crossing Lake Michigan, leave it to the ice balls and don’t risk it yourself.<\/p>\n

The decrease in water levels is due to the fact that the Great Lakes are currently experiencing a long-term drought. The record high levels were due to the heavy rains and snowmelt that occurred in 2020. The current water levels are still well below the record highs, but they are slowly starting to rise again.<\/p>\n

Which Great Lake does not freeze <\/h3>\n

Lake Michigan is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the only one to have never frozen entirely. It is considered to be the sixth largest freshwater lake in the world. It is surrounded by the US states of Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan.<\/p>\n

It is a well known fact that the water temperature in the Great Lakes is far too cold for most sharks, including the Bull Shark. Even if a shark were able to make it through the summer months in the Great Lakes, our frigid winters would turn it into a “sharksicle” in no time.