MUSKEGON, MI— Lake Michigan was blasted with sub-zero Arctic air last week, causing the Lakeshore to rapidly transform into an icy wonderland. Ice cover expanded rapidly last week, reaching a short-term peak of 21 percent ice cover last Wednesday.

West Michigan's coldest Arctic blast since 2019 brought frigid temperatures to all and heavy lake-effect to some.

Seasonal snowfall is now above average for most of West Michigan and ice coverage has increased on the Great Lakes due to last week's arctic blast.

Massive chunks of ice were seen floating in Lake Michigan on Wednesday, January 29, after more than 20 percent of it was covered with ice last week. Footage from Nate’s Dronography shows “massive floating ice boulders,

In Grand Rapids, 20 of the first 27 days of January brought high temperatures at or below the freezing point. That has helped in developing ice. Ice coverage is near average for Lake Michigan, while the deficit is larger for Lake Superior, Ontario and Huron. Lake Erie has a substantial surplus.