CHICAGO — If it's freezing in Chicago, why isn't Lake Michigan frozen yet?
Despite below-freezing temperatures for days now, there's not a speck of ice on Chicago's big lake.
But the ice might start forming as soon this week as below-zero temperatures hit Wednesday, Thursday and possibly Sunday, said Dave Samuhel, senior meteorologist for AccuWeather.
"It will probably start to freeze by the end of the week," Samuhel said. "Close to shore, we'll see ice but probably not several hundred yards into open waters."
The ice hasn't formed yet because Lake Michigan water temperatures have been several degrees higher this year than past years, Samuhel said. That's resulted in far less ice on the lake in 2016 than the average ice concentration from 1973-2015.
flying over frozen Lake Michigan was pretty cool. #ily Chicago pic.twitter.com/N9ff3DSXog
— Bri Nelson (@feeldaBRIze) March 9, 2014
In 2013-2014, the lake set a 41-year record for most ice cover at 93.3 percent.
"Water temperatures since the summer have been running 5-9 degrees above normal," Samuhel said. "And the Great Lakes were very warm through the fall, several degrees warmer than normal. So they have a long way to cool down. Even though it's cold lately and continues to be cold, even with extreme cold, the lakes still have to cool down."
Lake Michigan water temperatures early this week were in the lower 40s and in the 50s two weeks ago, Samuhel said, which is a "way to go to get to 32."
Some Lake Michigan ice has started to form in upper Michigan and Green Bay, Samuhel said.
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