Overview
- NOAA’s GOES‑19 satellite recorded a fissure forming on February 8 from Port Burwell, Ontario, to near Cleveland, Ohio, stretching roughly 128 kilometers (80 miles) within hours.
- Lake Erie’s ice coverage climbed to about 95–96 percent in early February, a near‑total freeze that remains uncommon since the last 100 percent event in 1996.
- Experts cite wind‑driven movement and thermal stress for the abrupt crack, showing that even expansive, seemingly solid ice can shift suddenly.
- The U.S. National Ice Center reports ice up to about 28 inches thick in places, yet conditions remain uneven with weak spots and open leads.
- The U.S. Coast Guard has deployed icebreakers to keep commercial routes open, while forecasters warn residents to avoid walking, snowmobiling, or ice fishing on the lake.