"Great Lakes Ice at Historic Low as Warm Winter Persists into 2024"

The Great Lakes have reached a 50-year record low for ice cover at the start of 2023, with only 0.35% covered in ice compared to the historical average of nearly 10%. This significant decline in ice cover is part of a broader trend linked to climate change, with warmer temperatures reducing the likelihood of ice formation. While reduced ice may benefit the shipping industry, it poses risks for coastal erosion, flooding, and severe snowstorms due to lake-effect snow. Despite the current low levels, there is still potential for ice cover to increase if a prolonged cold spell occurs, but the overall trend indicates a future with less ice cover on the Great Lakes.