Aerial Photos Show Lake Erie, And Much Of The Great Lakes Covered In Ice

Some would definitely agree that it’s been really cold lately, and as a result of the icy chill, the Great Lakes are freezing over.

Lake Erie, the Great Lake, which borders Ontario, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan and New York, is almost completely frozen.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Lake Erie was around 94 percent covered in ice on Sunday – as well as Lake Huron and Lake Superior, which were both more than 80 percent frozen.

During Sunday’s recordings, Lake Michigan and Lake Ontario were also shown to be quite icy, with 50 percent to 60 percent of their surface being frozen.

The 2015 freeze has a lot to live up to – the lakes’ 2014 ice covers were far greater than their averages for 1973 to 2013. For example, Lake Erie was about 75 percent ice last January – down from a typical average of about 30 percent.

While 100 percent ice cover for Lake Eerie is rare, it’s not unprecedented. The water was fully covered in 1978, 1979 and 1996, as well.

A NASA satellite captured this view of the Lake Erie on February 15. The aftermath of a deadly winter storm paralyzed much of the eastern United States on Tuesday, and forecasters warned of the worst cold in two decades from another arctic front this week.

[Image via NYDailyNews]