Great Lakes Ice Extent Twice Previous Record

The percentage of Great Lakes ice coverage (which was nearly a record this winter) remains much above normal despite temperatures in the 80s last Sunday according to this news story. That article explains the weather impacts (cooler and less severe weather here in Pennsylvania, for one) and negative business & shipping impacts.

"Even though the ice cover on the Great Lakes has steadily declined over the past month, the area of ice that remains is the highest in over 30 years and more than two times higher than the second highest extent for the same week back in 1996." --Brett Anderson

MODIS satellite images from Wednesday & Thursday shows that the ice on Lake Erie is breaking up and on the move. Unfortunately for fishermen (so I'm told), the "ice boom" on the lake may remain there for the rest of the month; the record was May 3, 1971.

This falls on the heels of a March 2014 Climate Report talking more about the highlights of this cold winter, including:

- The U.S. had its coldest March since 2002. - The U.S. had the coldest Jan.-March period since 1985! - Cold records outnumbered warm records by 5x in March, as I blogged previously. - Williamsport, Pa., experienced the coldest Jan.-March period in their 66-year record.