According the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, as of January 26th, 2018 the total ice coverage across the Great Lakes was 26.9 percent.
That’s down from the peak ice coverage this winter of more than 35 percent in mid January. The drought in ice coverage is likely due to the recent warmth experienced across the Great Lakes since mid January.
The individual lake with highest ice coverage is currently Lake Erie, with close to 65 percent of the lake being covered.
The lake with the least amount of ice coverage is Lake Michigan, where a little more than 12 percent of the lake is covered.
And for areas down wind of Lake Michigan, this could likely lead to more lake effect snow across these same areas.
Keep the shovels handy.
For WeatherNation, I am Meteorologist Marcus Walter.