• Monday-What'sUP February 26 - 08:58 pm

A recent trip to the northern end of the Keweenaw produced an icy view of Lake Superior for Ashlee Harvey. In her note to me about the photo, she said, "Copper Harbor was cold, but beautiful. The water was frozen, waterfalls weren't found, it was a very nice day." Any time you're near the Big Lake, it's always cooler than further inland, then add to the mix the wintry temperatures, along with the winds and the definition of cold gets a bit more intense! But just like Ashlee said, it's still beautiful and makes for a very nice day to be near this Great Lake.

I want to sincerely thank all the folks that have responded by leaving a message or emailing me directly, since Friday's posting about my nephew and his illness. If you're just tuning in and are wondering what I'm talking about, you can read more about it here: Kevin's Story

Good Morning!

Gorgeous shot! Out here in MN we always get the Copper Harbor temp on our news channel and it's warmer there than here many times.

Any definition of white is great.

Lake Superior's vast heat storing capacity (1cal/gdegC) allows it to moderate temps quite well!! Slightly warmer in winter and colder in summer compared to areas away from the lake. But, it also leads to about 50 more inches of snow annually too !! The best of both worlds.

Any time you're near the Big Lake, it's always cooler than further inland
not necessarily Mary....

In the the summer this is true because the lake is much cooler than the landmass so yes, it is definitely cooler along the lakeshore than inland (depending on the wind direction also). However, in the winter time, the lakeshore is usually a little warmer than inland because the water is warmer than the adjacent landmass. This is why Amasa gets soooo cold; too far inland to benefit from the lake. Unfortunitely, the Keweenaw pays for slightly warmer temps by getting dumped on with lake effect snow!!!

I know I know, it's too early on a Monday for science ;-)

Capt. Paul, it's never too early or too late to learn something.

Paul I believe you are right, about too early for science and the whole lake moderating everything. But I agree with Mary, it feels very cold on the lake with the wind whipping around you. So what is the wind chill difference on the lake?

Great picture, finally have some ice.

Finally, Capt. Paul didn't teach me anything I didn't already know! I can only wear my "Cooler By The Lake" sweatshirt at certain times of the year, and not during the coldest of winter months!

Although it's only warmer by the lake during the winter until it freezes over... Then there's nothing between you and the Rockies to warm the air up, and it gets *cold!* :)

Any idea what the percentage of ice cover is on the Lake right now? I know it froze all the way over back in Feb. of '03.

Here's a cool site where you can check on the ice on the Great Lakes. Looks like there's a good bit right now!

http://140.90.54.35/pub/great_lakes/D9_Support/glslide070219.jpg

Capt. Paul rocks!

Well that's why I didn't mention wind chill!! ;-)

Actual air temps are warmer along the lake in winter, but throw in a stiff Northwest wind off the lake and it gets mighty cold with the wind chill....

On my trip back home last week from Marquette, I stopped in Mackinaw City to take some pictures under the bridge. The ice on the water was awesome to see. It was like large, thick sheets, piled on top of each other. At one point I heard what sounded like a small bomb going off. Then it sounded like the ice was cracking. That was the most awesome sound, everything else was quiet except that sound of the ice. I wish I could have taped it!!

The big lake does moderate temperatures quite a bit, and another effect I've noticed since I've lived in Copper Harbor is, our temperatures don't vary between day and night so much as they do further south.

The southeast winds we've had in the past day or so seem to have pushed the ice away. There is clear water in front of my house (on Copper Harbor) this morning, and from the way the lake sounds, it must be nearly clear from the lighthouse to Horseshoe Harbor. Interesting effect. I would have thought the ice was too thick to get blown away like that.

The camera is back up this morning, so you can see for yourself...
http://www.aviewfromthefield.com/livecam.html

JoAnne from Wa. State ....... cool sight.

Captian Paul........I love science (now that I am older lol) your info is always interesting and appreciated.....thanks

Me , I want to see the blue and green waters of spring....

God's blessings....

Hi all
What I've noticed in cross-country skiing is that it's warmer in the woods, because of the wind that was mentioned in some previous e-mails. Seems like whenever I would go take a winter look at the Lake Huron (our place, Mackinaw City) or Lake Michigan (South Haven, Muskegon)there was a good wind blowing.

And, another effect of the wind is to move the ice. I have seen it look completely frozen over when the wind pushes a large area of ice to the shore but the next day it is open water.

That is a beautiful picture!

I do want to pick up a point that Sharon mentioned above: that the ice in Copper Harbor apparently broke up & was blown out into the main lake, even though she would have thought it was too thick for that to happen. That is really important. The US Coast Guard here is always stressing that ice is never safe, that there are rules of thumb for its being quasi safe, but it is never really safe.

I am bringing this up now because I can't tell you how many snowmobiles & all-terrain vehicles have fallen into the water in Saginaw Bay on Lake Huron, even just this winter. In some cases, the people have been lucky, they have been rescued. In one case, the two guys were able to swim to safety. This weekend, two guys on ATV's went into open water. They were both pulled from the water. One guy is ok. Unfortunately, the other guy died at the hospital. I believe they might have had cell phones with them? (The Coast Guard is begging people who think they must be out on the ice, to have all the required safety equipment & to have cell phones with them.)

Please exercise due caution, if you venture out onto the ice!

Great insight Sharon, thanks, I often wonder what kind of weather you face in the winter being on the east end, must be brutal at times. Is the water deep enough to bring a boat all the way to the east end? Usually, we just go from the marina out to the big lake following the markers, always wanted to come down to the east end and say Hi to you, but was not sure it was deep enough on the east end?

Dang, that looks just like Lake Ontario.
No, no, my mistake.
That's much bigger than Lake Ontario.

I Love the sound of the ice moving. Very eerie!!

My son took the picture. He does beautifull at only being 3