LONDON, Ont. — A record cold snap could lead to record-setting ice coverage of the Great Lakes.

The five lakes are 84% covered in ice — blasting ahead of the 67% coverage at this time last year during the seemingly endless polar vortex.

“It’s turning out to be a fairly severe year so far,” said George Leshkevich, a scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Great Lakes Research Centre.

Even as recently as a week ago, he said, Lake Erie had some open water near its north shore. But now, ice ridges more than three metres high in some places are impeding icebreakers that are trying to keep limited shipping going.

On the weekend, the Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker Griffon freed a 767-foot American freighter that was stuck in Lake Erie ice for five days. A U.S. Coast Guard ship sent earlier to free the freighter needed emergency provisions dropped by helicopter when it too became stuck.

Since ice record-keeping began 40 years ago, the maximum lake ice coverage was 97%, in 1979. During the coldest point last winter, ice covered 92.5% of the lakes.

“We’re at 84% now. It wouldn’t take too much more to at least reach last year’s lake (ice) maximum,” Leshkevich said.

Free-form ice sculptures have developed at Niagara Falls as much of the cascade’s surface has frozen over (the river rages on beneath the frozen surface).

But ice coverage doesn’t necessarily mean it’s safe for activities such as ice fishing or snowmobiling. A week ago, the U.S. Coast Guard rescued two snowmobilers who fell through Lake Erie ice near Kingsville, Ont.

ICE COVERAGE