When will lake effect snow come to an end?

NEW BUFFALO, Mich. -- Lake Michigan’s lakeshore still has ice, but overall, its ice cover remains lower than usual. By this time of year, colder temperatures should be freezing more of the lake’s surface, which would help limit lake-effect snow as we enter the final meteorological month of winter.

This ice concentration map of Lake Michigan shows that the eastern shoreline has more ice than the southern.

Comparing current levels to historical averages, ice concentration across the Great Lakes is at 19%, below the typical 28%. Lake Michigan’s ice coverage stands at 14%, compared to the usual 21%.

This year’s below-average ice coverage across the Great Lakes is due to milder temperatures. As a result, lake-effect snow remains possible in February. However, if February takes a cold turn, we could see an end to lake-effect snow for the season.