Lake Erie ice surges amid bitter cold and unusually low water levels

A look at the impact of extreme cold and ice levels in Windsor-Essex. CTV Windsor’s Chris Campbell reports.

A blast of Arctic air has rapidly transformed Lake Erie, freezing much of the shallow lake in a matter of days even as water levels remain well below last year’s mark, experts say.

Environment Canada says bitter cold temperatures, strong winds, and prolonged exposure to Arctic air have driven a sharp increase in ice coverage across Lake Erie, following a week in which large sections of the lake remained open water.

“Lakes don’t offer any protection from the wind,” said Trudy Kidd, a warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada. “And we’re seeing strong winds. So the wind chill near the lake is going to be really uncomfortable, to say the least.”

Wind chill values near minus 32 to minus 33 were forecast through Saturday morning, with gusts reaching up to 50 kilometres an hour. Kidd said the cold stands out even for Windsor-Essex.

“It is certainly very cold, and I would definitely put it in the unusual category,” she explained, noting the region typically sees about one day per year with temperatures below minus 10 C, while two such days are expected during this cold snap.

While Lake Erie is freezing rapidly, water levels remain low. Mike McKay, director at the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, said Lake Erie is currently about seven inches lower than it was at the same time last year.

“The fall and winter period is typically a lower level for the lakes,” McKay said, pointing to reduced runoff, frozen tributaries and lower precipitation, along with high evaporation during the fall.

McKay said lower water levels can reduce shoreline erosion in the short term, but stressed the need for long-term planning as lake levels fluctuate over time.

“It’s an interesting time in the Great Lakes,” he said, adding infrastructure near shorelines needs to be designed to withstand both low and high-water extremes over the coming decades.

Along the shoreline, the rapid freeze is drawing attention from anglers and caution from those who know the lake best.

“It’s pretty extreme,” exclaimed Fred Bondy, owner of South Shore Tackle in Colchester. “These years where we get this much ice this quick is few and far between.”

Bondy said interest in ice fishing is building, but warned conditions on Lake Erie remain dangerous. He said much of the ice near Colchester is currently shelf ice, making access unsafe without specialized equipment.

“Walking out would be too dangerous at this point,” he said, urging anyone considering heading onto the ice to be extremely cautious and prepared.

Environment Canada is warning frostbite can develop within minutes on exposed skin and advises residents to dress in layers, limit time outdoors and check on vulnerable individuals as below-normal temperatures are expected to persist into early February.