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    Cold Snap Increases Ice Coverage on Great Lakes

    Written by Sandy Williams


    Ice coverage on the Great Lakes has been mild this year, but with the cold snap currently hitting the nation, total ice coverage jumped to 37.7%. On this day in 2020, ice coverage was 18.2% and in 2019, 49.3%. The amount of ice on the Great Lakes varies each year depending on winter conditions, but the NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory is forecasting an average of 30% coverage for the 2020/2021 season, well below the 53% average from 1973-2020.

    Ice concentration as of Feb. 16:

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