Posted on 02/07/2014 5:01:55 AM PST by TurboZamboni
DULUTH, Minn. -- A frigid winter is pushing Lake Superior toward a complete ice-over for the first time since 1996, though there's still a ways to go before you can skate from Duluth to the Soo Locks.
Lake Superior had at least some ice across an estimated 91 percent of its surface as of Thursday, according to the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory.
That compares with the 40-year average annual Lake Superior ice coverage for February of just 30 percent.
George Leshkevich has been tracking Great Lakes ice for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory since 1973. He's seen all kinds of winters over those 41 years, and all sorts of ice cover.
(Excerpt) Read more at twincities.com ...
I drove over the Mackinac bridge and right after it was shut down. The car was getting buffeted around by the wind.
I went through the area where US 2 was shut down because of the drifting of snow coming over US 2.
This is the area where in the summer people pull to the side and swim in Lake Michigan.
Lake Effect Snow has made for plenty of snow Houghton has over 200 inches.
sault Sainte Marie has 130 inches.
Gaylord has 140 inches
St. Ignace has 95 inches
I have driven on that bridge when it was windy. Scaaaaary.
Used to go up to the top of the Upper Pennisula every year and go snow shoeing. One year Lake Superior was frozen enough that we were able to walk on the ice from Munising out to Grand Island.
4” of ice will support a car/jeep. Why do i know this? Grew up in upstate NY where it was not odd in the ‘50s-’60s for small lakes (even Ontario...) to have areas frozen enough to get into some fun tow-tubing/sledding.
this is the exact situation “Turbo Zamboni” has fantasized about for years, isn’t it?????
The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
This report is all lies! algore said all ice would melt by now (even that in my fridge). All lies, I tell you.
I wouldn’t have too much fear of driving on ice like there is on the inland lakes this year.
Back in the 80s when they were still holding the ice festival on Clark lake there were tractor trailer rigs parked on the ice and parking lots full of cars.
I’m ready to buy a cheap small pickup truck and cut a hole in the floor for icefishing.
It’s all part of my rock n roll fantasy.
Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald condensed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfHJ_G5V0M0
We don't need no stinking rules.
Probably better safe than sorry - I know that 4" was considered enough back then, but never got into the engineering specs. There were the occasional fall-throughs, but no telling if they just hit some thinner spots or if the rest were just living on borrowed time.
Thanks for the link - it seems there really is something for everything on the internet.
I’ve gone through.
Not lately. It’s not fun on snowmobile,but I imagine it would suck in a car.
Scary stuff. I fell thru in a creek so I was only 4 ft deep or so but it was scary as he!! to me.
My word! There is NO way I would cross that bridge in a semi at least not without my diving outfit on.
LOL!
No point in a diving outfit. The 200 foot plunge would kill you.
LOL! Gore forecast?
The winter from Hell seems to not be giving up anytime soon.........
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