For the first time since December, the Great Lakes are entirely ice-free this week and experiencing high water levels from April’s record-breaking rain.
Lakes Huron, Michigan, Erie, St. Clair, Ontario, Superior all reported no ice coverage on Monday, May 11, according to the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, a National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration program. On Sunday, May 10, there was still a sliver of ice — 0.08% along the northern shores of Lake Superior near Ontario, Canada’s Thunder Bay.
In 2025, the latest observation of ice also was along the northern shore of Lake Superior and was gone by May 11.
As of Friday, May 8, the Great Lakes have all reported an uptick in water levels from the previous April 8 measurement, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Weekly Great Lakes Water Level Update, likely due to the record-breaking rain and rapid snowmelt in April which caused major flooding statewide.
Compared to May 2025, Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huro and Ontario are above their average water levels, with Lake Ontario seeing the highest difference at 16 inches. Lakes Erie and St. Clair are below their average water levels by 2-3 inches, according to the USACE.
Officials forecast Lake Ontario’s water level to remain the same this month while water levels should rise 2-4 inches for the rest of the Great Lakes.
Here’s more on the Great Lake conditions in Michigan:
Is there any ice left on the Great Lakes?
No. The Great Lakes are completely ice-free as of May 11, according to the GLERL.
What are the Great Lake water levels 2026?
As of May 8, 2026, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ weekly update records the water levels as the following:
How deep are the Great Lakes?
Here are the average depths for the Great Lakes, from deepest to shallowest from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency:
Contact Sarah Moore @ smoore@lsj.com
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Is there any ice left on the Great Lakes? When the last ice melted
Reporting by Sarah Moore, USA TODAY NETWORK / Lansing State Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
