So far this winter it has been a very warm season, with the exception of a few days near -10F when the steam rose from the water. As I write this today it is nearly 60F which might tie or break the warmest day on record. While we all like the warmth and a season without shovelling snow, it is not necessarily the best for the Great Lakes. Without ice coverage the lakes will evaporate faster. We may see lower lake levels in the coming seasons which can be trouble for harbors for both recreational and industrial maritime activities. Yet, it might make our beaches bigger and help with the erosion problems we have faced in these lakes.

This quick video was shot on January 15, 2024 when it was -8 degrees. Personally I love going out in that kind of weather to get these kinds of shots. You dress for it and when shooting don’t really think much about it. This might be the coldest day of this winter with only about 6 weeks to go before spring. While for those few days the ice along the edge of the lake here in the Chicago area built up slightly it was clearly smaller than usual. This was the ice at the edge, as things were just starting to freeze.

Hope you enjoy.

Cheers, The Sweetwaters Seas