LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Federal scientists say the average Great Lakes ice coverage reached an historic low in 2024. They say the data marks another symptom of the region’s mild winter that brought limited snowfall.
The limited snowfall and lack of steady, cold temperatures cancelled ice fishing seasons and put a damper on downhill skiing in parts of the state.
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Scientists said the basin-wide seasonal average ice coverage was roughly 4.3% from Jan. 1 through March 31, the lowest ever recorded for that time period.
This season barely surpassed the last recorded average low ice year. In 2012, the lakes averaged 4.8% from Jan. 1-March 31. The record-high seasonal average was set in 1977, when the lakes averaged 69.6% frozen. The long-term annual average is 29.4% ice cover.
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