Which Great Lake doesn’t freeze?

Lake Michigan and Lake Ontario are the only Great Lakes that have never completely frozen over. This is due to their lower latitudes and large depths. The deep lakes provide massive heat storage, which allows them to resist freezing.

The Great Lakes, in general, do not completely freeze over in winter. They are so vast that it is very rare for them to entirely freeze over. However, substantial ice coverage does occur on the Great Lakes, with large sections of the lakes freezing over in the coldest months.

Since the early 1970s, the Great Lakes have had a long-term average of 55% ice coverage, with certain areas reliably freezing over. In that time, the lakes have surpassed 80% ice coverage only five times.

Despite this, the annual average ice coverage on the Great Lakes has decreased by an astonishing 71% since the early 1970s. This reduction in ice leaves the lakes uncovered and free to evaporate.

So, while you might see ice on the Great Lakes during the winter, don’t expect to see Lake Michigan or Lake Ontario completely freeze over. Their depth and latitude give them a natural resistance to freezing, making them unique among the Great Lakes.