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:
Great Lakes – overall: May 11
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.
Lake Superior: The warmest water temperature in Lake Superior was 60.1 degrees (Ashland), and the coldest temperature was 37.8 degrees (Terrace Bay).
Lake Michigan: The warmest water temperature in Lake Michigan was 62.4 degrees (Green Bay), and the coldest temperature was 43.5 degrees (Fisherman Island).
Lake Huron: The warmest water temperature in Lake Huron was 61.7 degrees (Sebewaing), and the coldest temperature was 40.8 degrees (Rogers City).
Lake Erie: The warmest water temperature in Lake Erie was 67.8 degrees (Rossford), and the coldest temperature was 54.1 degrees (Peacock Point).
Lake Ontario: The warmest water temperature in Lake Ontario was 55.8 degrees (Dexter), and the coldest temperature was 46 degrees (Ajax).
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:
Lake Superior: 483 feet in average depth, maximum depth at 1,332 feet.
Lake Michigan: 279 feet in average depth, reaching 925 feet at maximum.
Lake Ontario: 283 feet in average depth, maximum depth at 802 feet.
Lake Huron: 195 feet in average depth, and approximately 750 feet at maximum.
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.
Lake Superior has frozen over once since 1973, according to NOAA. The lake had 100% ice cover in 1996.
Lake Michigan’s ice cover high was 93.2% in 2014.
Lake Huron had 98.2% ice cover in 1996.
Lake Erie froze over completely in 1978, 1979 and 1996.
Lake Ontario had 86.2% ice coverage in 1979.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Michigan Great Lakes ice in 2025 lasted until May. Here’s where