Great Lakes ice extent has reached 80% for just the 9th time in the 47-year satellite record. Here’s the percent of ice coverage for each lake: Superior 94.91% (8th highest in 47 years), Michigan 55.83% (10th highest), Huron 90.59% (11th highest), Erie 93.61%, Ontario 27.29%, St. Clair 97.89%.

Lake St. Clair was up at 100% from Jan. 30 to Feb. 12. Lake Superior has reached 100% coverage only once, in 1996. Lake Erie has reached 100% three times – in 1978, 1979 and 1996. Lake Michigan reached 93.1% in both 1977 and 2014.

Here’s historic Great Lakes ice cover. The highest extent was reached on Feb. 19, 1979 at 94.7%.

The top pic. is a Great Lakes Modis Stellite picture from this PM – with high pressure and mostly clear skies across the Great Lakes. Notice the deep Finger Lakes south of Lake Ontario are still open water. Seneca Lake has a mazimum depth of 618 feet, which mkes it nearly 3 times deeper than Lake Erie. Cuyoga Lake has a maximum depth of 435 feet.