Ice Conditions May Cause Concern For Great Lakes Shipping Industry

90% Ice Coverage on Lake Superior

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It’s not a shock that last year’s brutal winter caused major delays for the shipping industry as their tracks were blocked by ice coverage.

The current ice conditions have authorities concerned.

The Great Lakes are once again entirely covered in ice. 

The total percentage of ice coverage throughout the Great Lakes is 78.6%.

Lake Superior is more than 90% covered.

The coverage is there but the thickness does not compare to lasts. 

There are still 3 weeks left until shipping season begins.

Officials at the Duluth Seaway Port Authority say it’s too early to panic. 

But, unfortunately there is nothing they can do. 

The biggest obstacle lies in the hands of Mother Nature. 

In order to slow down ice formation, above average temperatures will help pave the shipping tracks by melting their ice. 

But, this year other areas had some issues that they didn’t have last year including higher winds, waves and colder temperatures.

“What people fail to realize I when you see ice here there may be open water on Lake Michigan and that will change in 3 weeks depending on wind, waves and again colder temperatures.  So, if the Detroit area gets 50 degree weather within the next couple weeks, that may open up,” said Duluth Seaway Port Authorities Public Relations Manager, Adele Yorde. 

The vessels are still finishing their winter work.

We should be seeing traffic move at the end of the month.

The Soo Locks are set to open March 25th. 

The Mesabi Range will be the first cargo ship out of Superior for the spring season.