Scientists blame climate change for warm Lake Michigan just weeks before it should freeze
Scientists say is to blame for Lake 's waters being far warmer than normal at this time of year just weeks ahead of its annual freeze. This unusually warm November, the hottest one ever recorded, brought warmer air temperatures to the the U.S. and the Midwest, which can delay the cooling of lake temperatures. Grand Haven, one of the towns which sits on the coast of Lake Michigan, has seen water temperatures hover around 52F on Friday morning. It would normally see an average temperature of around 44F for this time of year. Meanwhile, the National Weather Service - which has multiple thermometers located a mile off the coast of the huge lake - also recorded above average water temperatures. They currently sit at 46F or 47F, with scientists warning a prolonged period of 2F or 3F water temperature increases could cause serious problems such as coastal erosion, and the death of underwater ecosystems. Climatologist Trent Ford told the the warmer lake waters could also delay winter storms in the area, possibly pushing back the freezing of Lake Michigan even further. 'What was kind of jarring was the consistency of the warmer-than-normal conditions, and the lack of cool nights.' Ford said. And while residents may enjoy a longer respite from the lake's famously frigid winter temperatures, there'll be downsides too. They include coastal erosion that can destroy homes, toxic algae blooms encouraged by warmer water that can kill marine life, as well as a proliferation of pests including mosquitoes that normally die out as the mercury plummets. The states bordering Lake Michigan all saw high minimum temperatures from July through October, marking one of the hottest transitions from summer to fall in recorded history. Illinois saw this year's October about 8 degrees higher than average, the highest on record. Temperatures in the state were as high as 68 degrees before dipping to 56. 'Getting a record number of 60-degree-or-higher nights in October is not like getting a record number of 100-degree days in July, but certainly there are impacts from that, even though they may be a bit more subtle.' While the warmer temperatures extend the activity of ticks, mosquitos and even allergy season, the more notable impacts will be seen through Lake Michigan and the other Great Lakes, which are also registering higher than normal temperatures. Scientist are expecting to see warmer days, more intense rain and longer dry spells in the coming years if the lakes continue warming. This is due to a lack of ice cover, which begins in January and peaks in February and March, and directly affects the summer and fall conditions in the upper Midwest. Ice climatologist Jia Wang, of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab, also warned of warmer weather to continue this winter season due to global climate change. Wang told the Tribune that above average surface water temperatures and below-average ice cover was projected across all the Great Lakes this year. As ice cover diminishes in the lakes, coastal erosion around them increases, as does the likelihood of invasive species settling in the lakes, which can trigger harmful algae blooms that kill many of marine animals.