Ice Already Forming On The Great Lakes

Winter has come early to West Michigan, as the nearly thirty inches of snow we received last week can testify. But there is more physical proof of the early freeze.

Researchers say that ice has already formed on the Great Lakes, and that's much earlier than usual. In fact, it's the earliest icing in at least 40 years and 10 days earlier than last year which was one of the coldest winters on record.

According to ABC News, the first sightings of ice on Lake Superior and the Great Lakes overall usually occur during the beginning to middle of December. However, a perfect combination of last season's record ice coverage, cooler summer temperatures, and an early blast of arctic air this fall has allowed for areas of ice to form earlier than normal for the second year in a row.

Lake Superior was also covered in ice for the longest time it ever has been and last year showed the second largest ever ice coverage.

In 2013, ice appeared on the lake on November 25 and didn't melt until June of 2014 meaning Lake Superior only went five and a half months without any ice on the water.

Lakes Superior, Michigan and Huron showed ice 10 days earlier this year than last year.

This satellite view from the National Weather Service, shows ice forming on the tips of Saginaw Bay in the Lower Peninsula.