Does Lake Superior Freeze? Has it Ever Frozen Over?
Are you asking yourself the question, does Lake Superior freeze? Many people wonder this, because of the Great Lake’s size.
Since Lake Superior is so large, there are a lot of questions surrounding it, including curiosity about what’s in it, if it ever freezes over, and if it’s salt water.
In this post, we’ll be talking specifically about whether or not you’ll see this massive lake frozen in the winter, or if it remains open.
Since Minnesota has so many lakes and it does get so cold, it can be odd to think that one of them might be open in winter, but you’ll learn that with Lake Superior, it does happen!
I grew up just an hour from Lake Superior and have spent a lot of time there in my life. I’ve visited it both in winter and summer and have had the chance to see ice form on the lake.
Let’s jump right into answering your questions, so you have a better understanding of what this lake is like in the winter.
Does Lake Superior Freeze?
While Lake Superior is known for its immense size and chilly waters, it rarely freezes completely over.
In fact, many people wonder if the lake is saltwater because of its size.
Due to its depth and the constant motion of the lake, it remains largely unfrozen throughout the winter months.
If you’ve ever visited Lake Superior, especially in the winter, you’ll know what I’m talking about!
The swells that we see on the lake each year sometimes cause damage and it oftentimes looks like an ocean amid a winter storm. In fact, many people actually surf on the waves!
However, it’s not all liquid all the time! Each winter, as temperatures plummet, Lake Superior experiences partial freezing.
You’ll find chunks of ice that float along the edges and bays of the lake where the water is more shallow.
You might even find intricate ice formations hanging along the rocky coastline that are just beautiful.
So while it doesn’t typically fully freeze over, we do experience some frozen parts of the lake.
Has Lake Superior Ever Frozen Over?
While we now know that Lake Superior doesn’t freeze over in a typical year, it doesn’t mean that it never freezes over.
In fact, about once every 20 years, we’ll see Lake Superior completely froze over.
This is really a site to see, as it doesn’t happen often, and it usually won’t last for very long.
In order for this to happen, the temperatures need to be very cold and the water temperature needs to drop drastically. Winds also need to be calmer than they normally are.
The most recent time that this almost happened was in the winter of 2013-2014 when Lake Superior had about 90% ice coverage.
The last time it was nearly 100% covered was back in 1996. It’s interesting to see, since there’s a lot of snow and ice build-up on the frozen lake!
I’ve actually never visited the lake when it was fully covered, but I hope to someday!
How Often Does Lake Superior Freeze Over?
Believe it or not, there have been rare occasions when Lake Superior has frozen over completely, creating a breathtaking sight that occurs approximately once every two decades.
During these unique winters in Minnesota, sustained periods of frigid temperatures combine with calm winds to allow the ice to gradually build up and cover the entire lake.
Typically it doesn’t last for too long, since the water begins to move and winds cause the ice to break.
Although there are years when the ice lasts for a while!
It’s important to note, though, that even when Lake Superior freezes over entirely, the ice can still be unpredictable and unsafe, so it’s best to stay off of it.
Why Does Lake Superior Not Freeze?
You might know by wondering does Lake Superior freeze and if not, why doesn’t it?
Lake Superior does freeze occasionally, but it doesn’t happen often.
More often than not, we see a partial freeze and large chunks of ice floating on the shore, rather than the entire lake froze over.
Lake Superior freezes over completely about once every 20 years or so, and it takes quite a few things to happen for it to freeze.
For example, the temperatures have to be very cold and the winds have to be fairly calm.
The same thing goes for the other Great Lakes since their size prevents them from being completely ice covered.
But because of how cold the lake is and its size, many people think it seems like an ocean, and even wonder if there are things like whales or sharks in it.
When Was the Last Time Lake Superior Froze?
Lake Superior sees a partial freeze every year where there’s ice on the edges and in bays, but we don’t usually see a full freeze.
I visited this past winter and saw a lot of the ice chunks that had made their way into the harbor in Duluth.
The last time that Lake Superior froze entirely was back in 1996, when the lake was almost at 100% coverage.
Back in 2014, the lake was at about 90% frozen over, so it was pretty darn close to meeting that entirely frozen-over title!
How Much of Lake Superior Freezes Over Typically?
In a typical year, we only see around a maximum of about 60% of Lake Superior being frozen over.
In some years, it’s much lower than that, and in other years, it can be higher.
The percentage of lake that’s completely ice covered also depends greatly by month, since the temperatures and conditions change.
Most often, you’ll see the most ice coverage in the months of February, March, and April.
The historical average, according to the NOAA, is around 40% of the lake being covered in ice.
In February, the historical average is about 25%, with March coming in at around 45% and April having around 20%.
Again, this really varies from year to year and month to month.
Do the Great Lakes Freeze?
The answer to the question do the Great Lakes freeze is similar to that of the question does Lake Superior freeze.
Yes, the Great Lakes can freeze, but it’s rare that they are entirely covered in ice.
In a typical year, the Great Lakes, Erie, Michigan, Superior, Huron, and Ontario, will see some ice coverage, mostly around the edges and in bays.
Because of the size of these lakes and the conditions that are found on them, including large waves, it’s unlikely to see them freeze completely over.
Their size often times even fools people into believing there are sharks in the water!
You’ll see Lake Superior frozen over about once every 20 years, and the others are similar.
Lake Ontario and Lake Michigan often see freezing even less, since they are situated further south in the United States.
FAQs
The ice on Lake Superior can get very thick in some spots. It varies from spot to spot, but in the bays and on the edges, it’s thicker than it will be in deeper areas. It’s important to note that the ice can be very unpredictable and you should consult the DNR to see how deep it is in a given year.
Yes, Lake Michigan can freeze, but it’s rare that it’s entirely covered in ice. More often than not, it’s partially frozen with chunks around the edges.
Lake Superior has frozen about every 20 years or so. The most recent was in 2014, and before that it was in 1996.
Lake Erie is the most likely to freeze over since it’s the shallowest of all five of the lakes.
Lake Erie can freeze, but it’s very unlikely to see it fully frozen over, rather than just being partially frozen.
Depending on the size of the lake, it can take a week or more for ice to form. It depends on the air temperature, the size of the lake, and weather conditions.
Whether or not Lake Superior is frozen in a given year or not depends on the air and water temperatures, as well as the conditions. Because of the lake’s size, it takes a lot for it to be completely froze over.
Wrap-Up: Lake Superior Frozen
Now that you know the answer to your question, does Lake Superior freeze, you can move on and visit knowing what to expect.
This massive lake rarely freezes completely over, but you will once in a while see it happen! And you’ll almost always find it with ice floating around the edges in winter.
I hope that this guide taught you a thing or two about frozen Lake Superior!
