It may seem like summer across the Great Lakes, but it’s only been a few weeks since ice clung to the last few areas in Lake Superior, according to data from NOAA.
The Great Lakes were at 52.23% ice coverage on Feb. 22, the highest percentages of ice coverage since February 2022 when it hit 56%, NOAA said earlier this year.
While ice coverage shrunk quickly with warm spring weather, ice stubbornly hung on in Black Bay and Nipigon Bay, east of Thunder Bay, Ontario, until May 10-11. Lake Michigan, the first Great Lake to thaw completely, had a tiny area of ice at the north end of Green Bay, Wisconsin, on April 10-11.
Great Lakes peak ice coverage typically coincides with the end of February, NOAA said. The upper Great Lakes see peak coverage in early March.
Water temperatures across the ice-free lakes currently vary from the upper 30s to the mid-60s.
Here is more on the Great Lakes and ice coverage data.
When did the Great Lakes become ice-free in 2025?
Here are the dates of last recorded ice on each of the Great Lakes in 2025, from the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory updates:
How warm are the Great Lakes now?
As of June 6, the Great Lakes remain pretty cold. Here’s a look at current temperatures and where they were measured, according to seatemperature.info.
Which Great Lake gets the most ice during winter?
Historically, Lake Erie freezes and warms the quickest due to its shallow depth, the shallowest among the Great Lakes.
The average depth of Lake Erie is about 62 feet and 210 feet, maximum — with 871 miles of shoreline, the Great Lakes Commission said.
Here are the other average depths for the Great Lakes, from deepest to shallowest from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency:
What is the record ice coverage for the Great Lakes?
The overall highest percentage of ice coverage for all the Great Lakes took place in 1979 when they were 94.7% covered, NOAA said.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: How long did Great Lakes ice hold on in 2025? When the last ice melted
Reporting by Dan Basso and Sarah Moore, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
