Great Lakes water temps - LES season

[josh_4184]

Hey John,

Was curious as to your thoughts about the potential impact on our LES season due to the colder than normal lake temperatures. Not saying that we will experience another record cold winter season, but with the lakes especially Superior running below normal temps compared to the 30 year average, could their be potential for the lakes to freeze again even sooner this year affecting our LES if we get another colder winter. The cooler summer really did not help much either with water temps.

Thanks

-Josh

 

[jd]

The lake temps only really make a difference in the early season (up until around mid-Dec). After that point, the water temps are pretty much the same in any given year.

So early season LES could be impacted some, but probably not by much as it is really the atmosphere that is the biggest factor. As far as the ice accumulation, that too will depend most on the weather and not the lake temp going into winter.

Keep in mind, when we are talking about lake temps, we are really talking about the top 15-20 feet. After that the temps are close to the same all year long and the lake is over 1000 ft deep in many areas. So the section that actually fluctuates the most is a sliver of the entire lake.

-John