Four photo essays:
1) Lake Michigan’s Lake Effect
2) Lake Michigan’s Fluctuating Water Levels, including the 2020 High-Water Level Event
3) Lake Michigan’s Ice Shelf; the Beauty, the Lure and the Dangers
4) Meltdown at Pier Cove Beach and a Brief History
Lake Michigan’s “Lake Effect”
Follow along with my photo essay to discover how Lake Michigan affects seasonal weather conditions near her outlying coastal regions which greatly affects the regions inhabitants, agriculture and recreation!
Lake Michigan Spring and Summer Weather Lake Effect
Lake Michigan spring water temperatures remain cold between 45 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit which can knock down the strength of heat consuming spring thunderstorms or tornadoes cooled down after traveling across the lake some 60 to 90 miles from Wisconsin or Illinois toward Michigan.
The “Lake Effect” Limitation: While the springtime cool lake surface often stabilizes the air and weakens incoming storms (a “natural barrier”), it does not prevent strong, supercell-driven tornadoes from tracking across the lake.
Much of the agricultural coastal regions near the lake in Michigan and Wisconsin experience a delayed spring damaging frost due to the lake’s warmer water temperatures heating the coastal land air temperatures.
In late summer and early fall, warm water combined with cool air often creates tornadic waterspouts, which can move ashore as weak landspout tornadoes.
On a personal note, when I worked at Oval Beach in Saugatuck, Michigan, there were several occasions when we watched waterspouts at a far distance out over the lake as they sprang up and eventually dissipated before they were able to reach the shore.
Lake Michigan Spring and Summer Weather Lake Effect Continue . . .
Lake Michigan’s summer water temperatures from June to August average between 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
It’s not uncommon for Lake Michigan coastal regions of Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan air temperatures to be 5, 10 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than inland locations during the spring and summer months due to the cooler water temperatures cooling the air nearest the coasts.
Despite year to year variability, an overall warming trend in air temperature has been observed in the Lake Michigan basin from 1948 to the present.
Along Lake Michigan’s coastal regions warmer air off the lake during the fall provides a delayed frost allowing for a longer growing season.
Lake Michigan frequently causes lake effect rain, particularly during autumn when cold air masses move over the warmer water. This process, similar to lake-effect snow, occurs when the lake warms and moistens cold air, creating instability that forms intense, narrow rain bands, often impacting the western and southern coasts of Michigan in late October and early November.
Michigan experiences significantly more precipitation—both rain and snow—due to the lake-effect mechanisms, particularly on its western and northern shores beneficial for agriculture and recharging well-water supplies.
Lake Michigan’s winter water temperatures from December to March average between 35 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
Wisconsin and Michigan’s inland coastal regions can experience five, ten to twenty degrees higher air temperatures near Lake Michigan in the winter due to the warmer water temperatures warming the air near the coasts.
Lake-effect snow occurs near the coasts when cold air and wind travel across warm water. The magic number is at least a 23 degree temperature difference between the water and air at 5,000 feet.
Western Michigan and Northern Indiana often can experience heavy lake-effect snow, typically along the coastal regions resulting in higher average yearly snow accumulations. But at times, prevailing westerly winds can push the lake-effect snow all the way across the states to the east.
Wisconsin and Illinois rarely experiences lake-effect snow due to the prevailing westerly winds pushing the lakes warmed air away from their coasts.
Lake Michigan’s Fluctuating Water Levels; including the 2020 High-Water Level Event
Lake Michigan Seashore
Follow along with my photo essay for a brief but clear explanation of Lake Michigan’s fluctuating water levels and the 2020 major high water-level event.
Lake Michigan Water Levels Fluctuation Cycles
Lake Michigan water levels fluctuate on an annual cycle, rising in the spring and summer due primarily to snowmelt runoff. Water levels decline in the fall due to increased evaporation from the temperature difference between the colder air and warmer water.
On average, the highest lake levels are observed between June and August.
Variability of water levels in Lake Michigan is observed on many different time spans, including seasonal, monthly, annual and decades.
Major Weather Factors affecting Lake Michigan water levels?
Hotter summer weather increases water evaporation from the lake resulting in decreased water levels. Conversely, less evaporation due to colder summer weather can result in increased water levels.
Increase or decrease ice coverage over the lake during the winter effects water levels. Low ice coverage will experience more evaporation off the lake resulting in a decrease in water levels and visa versa.
Increase or decrease of runoff from rivers, streams and channels can affect water levels accordingly.
Increase or decrease of snow and rain accumulation affects water levels accordingly.
Human sources can also affect fluctuations in water levels, but much less than precipitation, runoff, and evaporation.
Wider spread winterice sheets over Lake Michigan result in less evaporation and higher water levels! (Saugatuck, Michigan Harbor)
Lake MichiganRecord High Water Level Event of 2020
Lake Michigan experienced low water levels from 2000 to 2013, but beginning in 2014, water levels began to show a significant rise. On a personal note; I worked at Oval Beach in Saugatuck, Michigan from 2010 to 2019 and witnessed firsthand water levels rise each year as our beach simultaneously shrank each of those years.
By 2020, Lake Michigan water levels were near the highest observed monthly levels since at least 1918. The most recent period with similar lake levels was 1986-1987.
For eight months of 2020, Lake Michigan’s record high water levels were over two feet above average. It caused eroded shorelines and damaged docks and harbors as waves reached higher and higher levels.
Elevated lake levels increase impacts along the shorelines particularly during storm events; even minor weather events can cause flooding of low-lying areas near the lake such as rivers, beaches, streets, parks, and trails.
2020 photos of Lake Michigan damaged bluff in Southwest Michigan due to extreme high-water levels.
The above photos show some of the damage along a Southwest Michigan lake bluff during high water levels in 2020. Trees were leveled from erosion and powerful storm waves literally reached up and over the iron breaker walls and as the waves repeatedly washed back and forth, they lossened the heavy iron breakers off their foundations.
Many homeowner were affected by the high water levels. Some people brought in thousands of dollars worth of giant boulders along the shoreline to save their homes while other homes could not be saved and were moved to other locations.
Homeowners brought in large boulders to protect their homes from record high water levels along Lake Michigan in 2020.
What special conditions led to the 2020 record high water level event?
Between 2014 and 2020, Lake Michigan and bordering states experienced the wettest consecutive six year events in history. This includes snow and rain.
The “water year” from November, 2018 to October, 2019 was declared the wettest water year on record across Michigan and Wisconsin. I especially remember that spring of 2019 because it rained almost everyday and I lost my best raspberry shrub to a fungus.
Two major winter Polar Vortex events happened the years of 2014 and 2019 which caused record high ice coverage over the lake resulting in less evaporation contributing to the high water levels!
Lake Michigan High Wave Shoreline – Black and White Photography
Water Levels Today as of 2026
As of early 2026, Lake Michigan water levels are trending down, continuing a decline from 2020 record highs due to lower-than-average precipitation and increased evaporation. The water level is roughly 49 inches below the 2020 record high.
Levels in January 2026 are approximately 577.5 feet, placing them about 12 inches below the long-term average, yet still significantly above the record lows of 2013.
Projections indicate the water level will remain below the long-term average through at least May 2026, though not approaching the 2013 record low.
Lake Michigan’s Ice Shelf; the Beauty, the Lure and the Dangers
Lake Michigan’s Ice Shelf one week after a major Polar Vortex event!
If you have ever lived or visited West Michigan during the winter, you may have wondered how those 20-foot icy-snow mounds form over Lake Michigan’s ice shelf! Having lived near the lake all my life, I was one of those people and finally seized the opportunity to watch the progression! Follow along as numerous photos and a few videos help demonstrate the process, but also the dangers and risks humans take lured by the beauty of the ice shelf.
Pier Cove Beach, Lake Michigan ice shelf one day after a major Polar Vortex event!
Unlike the other four Great Lakes, which often completely freeze over in winter, Lake Michigan has never completely frozen over in recorded history. Lake Michigan is actually a huge, deep reservoir of heat which is released slowly into the air. Altogether, with regular wind and wave action, ice formation is inhibited.
The years of 2014 and 2019 experienced major polar vortex events, which brought in Canadian air from the north resulting in record-breaking cold temperatures. Lake Michigan froze a record 93% during the 2014 event. Typically, the ice shelf over Lake Michigan ranges between 35% and 60% during the peak winter month, which is usually February. The Polar Vortex event of 2019 lasted longer than the 2014 event which caused schools churches and businesses to shut down for an entire week in many cases.
Lake Michigan’s ice sheet or “ice shelf “ is typically observed closer to the coasts and channels due to more shallow water and protection from winds and currents leaving the middle of the lake ice free.
Meltdown over Lake Michigan Ice Shelf one week after a major Polar Vortex event!
The shorelines of each Great Lake are distinctive and stunning, but Lake Michigan stands out as the deadliest of the five Great Lakes. The lake is unmistakably dangerous in the winter as frigid temperatures form the ice shelf. But especially dangerous when temperatures reach above freezing and melting begins simultaneously when curious and adventurous people venture out onto the ice shelf. (See tiny figures in photos above and below)
Lake Michigan Ice Shelf at Pier Cove Beach reveals risk takers!
I captured most of these photos one week after the 2014 major polar vortex event when the ice shelf was substantially built up and a meltdown was taking place. Sightseers were taking risks climbing up the huge mounds, especially the guy near the edge in the photo above. Every year someone either has to be rescued or loses their life from falling into the freezing water while walking on the ice shelf.
Polar Vortex extreme cold coming down from Canada – 2014
Lake Michigan Silver Beach Shoreline with frozen Ice-eggs and Ice-chunks
More about the dangers below, but first – What is the process whereby the freshwater reservoirs of the Great Lakes transform from free-flowing into frozen suspension?
Initially, the sustaining air temperatures fall below freezing creating a thin frozen ice sheet over the surface of the big lake. Next, ice chunks are broken up by the wind and wave action and sometimes the ice chunks are rolled into ice pancakes and ice balls (ice eggs) by the waves perpetual back and forth motion. Eventually, the ice chunks and ice balls are slowly pushed towards the shore and stick together, the beginning stages of the ice shelf. As winter winds and freezing temperatures continue, the ice shelf spreads farther outward from the shore and builds-up higher over the existing shelf as crashing waves spray more and more ice chunks upon the existing shelf along with additional inches or feet of snowfall. The colder, windier and snowier the winter, the farther the ice shelf grows outward and the higher it builds upward. But be warned, the ice shelf is unstable and encompasses crevasses and ridges, unanchored to the lake bottom. Never step far out onto the ice shelf and whatever you do, don’t be alone with noone there to report or assist with a dangerous situation.
Nates Dronography of Lake Michigan ice shelf developing in the begining stages. Source
Dangers of Lake Michigan’s Ice Shelf
There have already been serious rescue incidents in 2026 and reports of fatalities related to people falling through or off the edge of Lake Michigan ice shelves. When someone accidentally plummets into the icy waters, hypothermia sets in quickly along with loss of muscle control. Sadly, too many people have lost their lives in this way. One tragic incident locally happened years ago when a young boy fell in and drowned, along with his father trying to save him. This happens with people and their dogs as well.
The farther out a person decides to venture, the deeper the lake water and the more dangerous.
Don’t be fooled into thinking the large ice hills are solid. Underneath them are loose cracks and pockets caused by the currents below, especially when things start to melt. Another problem is that a person can easily lose footing along the edges as the surfaces become very slippery from the melting and refreezing processes.
Lake Michigan Ice Shelf Hidden Pockets
Ice Shelf Unstable Edges and Collapsed Edge
Lake Michigan Ice Shelf Deep Holes and Deep Gullies
Stunning ‘ice volcanoes’ captured on Lake Michigan! These form when waves push water through ice shelves, creating cone-shaped eruptions.Source
You may be wondering if I took risks in order to capture these photos? Well, slightly, I admit, but I was careful not to go past the first tier of ice shelf mounds where the water would not have been over my head in case I did fall through. Plus, the closer you are to shore, the more solid the ice shelf. If you look closely at the photo below, you can observe three rows or tiers where the splashing ice balls did their thing. This is caused by fluctuating temperatures causing ice to partially melt and then re-freeze, strengthening some layers while creating weak spots in others, which often leads to uneven or tiered formations.
Lake Michigan Ice Shelf sightseers keeping a safer distance closer to shore!
I captured these willing sightseers on the first tier of the ice shelf and that was precarious enough for us. We did not walk farther out from this spot where the water is deeper and the shelf may be shallower in places. We stayed back but watched others foolishly venture out to the distant edges of the ice shelf.
Lake Michigan Ice Shelf at Pier Cove Melting Away
. . . And finally, when temperatures steadily become warmer, the snow and ice chunks separate once again and the ice shelf melts away!
Remnants on the beach of Lake Michigan’s melted ice-eggs.
And soon you can do this . . .
Chill’n at the Beach – Lake Michigan’s Oval Beach My Photo Site
Follow along with my photo essay describing the brief history of a quaint Lake Michigan beach community called Pier Cove in Southwest Michigan and a recent development at Pier Cove Beach during an unusual March meltdown.
A long forgotton pier in Southwest Michigan at Pier Cove Beach 1896
History of a Quaint Lake Michigan Beach Community called Pier Cove
The Southwestern Lake Michigan shoreline forms a long steep curve inland at the point of Pier Cove where a small creek empties into the big lake. In the early 1800’s, Pier Cove’s ravines and plateaus bordering the creek flourished with white pine, beech, hemlock and maple trees. By the 1840’s, lumber was in great demand prompting the construction of a steam sawmill and wood shop downstream. The timber there helped support the build-up of Chicago and Milwaukee. Adding to the lumber demands before the advent of big coal markets, the hardwoods were also used to provide cord woods as the major power source in steam driven vessels navigating on Lake Michigan.
Pier Cove Location 1873
The wood shop was later made into a grist mill for grinding both flour and feed which was powered by the small creek. A secondary product in demand was tanbark derived from the area’s hemlock trees used to yield leather. Accordingly, in the 1850’s a tanning mill was also built along the creek turning out fancy leather works.
Mid 1800’s Grist Mill at Pier Cove, destroyed in storm of 1915
Two piers were constructed at opposite sides of the creek and the bustling small community hosted a major distribution point! Ships departed daily until the late 1860’s when the lumber supply began to dwindle from heavy harvesting, including from the demands to rebuild Chicago after the devastating fire of 1871. Soon, competition from a new railroad line through the nearby village of Fennville surpassed the need for the waterway port. Pier Cove’s prosperity phased out; however, in the 1880’s, peaches and other fruit became a major shipping commodity and the site revived the village’s economy!
Pier Cove Dock stocked with peaches – late 1800’s
In 1892, 8000 baskets of peaches were shipped in one day. Tragically, in 1899 a freeze killed much of the local harvest and shipping was reduced to passenger traffic. By 1919, both piers were destroyed from ice and storms, never to be restored again.
O.C. Simonds, the last owner of the Pier Cove large plot of the creek valley, planted many unusual plants and the area became quite well known by naturalists for its many varieties of trillium. The land currently has been declared a nature and wildlife sanctuary!
A Tale of the First Settler
In the early 1800’s, before the area was settled by European Americans, Pottawatomie Native Americans were the main people living off the land. At that point in time, fur trading practices had long been established as the local Pottawatomie had always been very friendly and accommodating toward the tradesmen. The very first European’s to take root and settle down in the area were the Crawford’s who witnessed a terrain thick with white pines as far as the eye could see.
One particular humorous story documented about the new settlers, the Crawfords, describes how the family toiled to cut down the trees and grub out the land in order to plant their corn, wheat and vegetables. But sometimes they got lost in the forest; even their cow got lost trying to find its way home when it was time to be milked and fed. One particular occasion happened when a band of Pottawatomie Native Americans nearby allowed the Crawford’s to camp out in their village while they looked for their lost cow! They were fed by the friendly tribe and a kind Native American woman even sewn them each a pair of moccasins.
Frozen Lake Michigan ice shelf today where Pier Cove Creek drains into the big lake!Beginning meltdown of Lake Michigan Ice Shelf where Pier Cove Creek drains into the big lake!
The Winter Meltdown and Pier Cove Beach Today
Amazingly, the first photo below was taken only a few days after the photo that follows at Lake Michigan’s Pier Cove Beach demonstrating the rapid snow meltdown caused by an unusual March warm-up. The last surviving snow mound had once reached approximately 25 feet high covered with a top layer of white snow and ice. It was part of the solid ice sheet called the ice shelf which dominates over Lake Michigan’s shorelines during winter months. Looking at the first photo below we can see the last surviving snow mound was colored brown due to layers of frozen sand exposed during the unusual early March meltdown.
Lake Michigan Melting Ice Shelf
Left: Photo ofLake Michigan ice shelf beginning stages of the meltdown at Pier Cove Beach after a harsh winter! Right: Photo of Pier Cove Creek flowing parallel along the Lake Michigan shoreline after the snowmelt!
The ice shelf will sometimes force the creek to run parallel to the shore before it empties into the lake. The photos above were taken several years ago after a harsh winter where the ice shelft was quite extensive. Later during the spring and summer, the creek will often change route where it flows into the big lake.
Pier Cove Creek banks melting ice and Pier Cove Creek banks frozen sand sculptures!
What Wonders Lie on Pier Cove Beach after the Snowmelt?
Photographs of rocks and beach stones often go unappreciated so I have included several favorites in this photo review shown below. Rocks, clamshells, beach glass and fossils are much more accessible for discovery on the beaches of Pier Cove compared to other beaches in the area, such as the popular tourist site of Oval Beach! It’s a phenomenon seen especially in the spring when rivers of melting snow rush by, erasing the sand off the many hidden treasures.
What Beauties Lie on the Creekbed after the Snowmelt?
The photos below show sparkling clear water rushing over beach stones settled upon Pier Cove Creek’s sandy bottom resulting from melting snow running off the steep ravines bordering the creek through Pier Cove Forest Sanctuary. The creek, which no longer supports transportation of the former industries, has been taken over by the ensuing forest.
Cool driftwood settles along Pier Cove Creek and Pier Cove Beach! Often there will be large tree trunks washed up by the power of Lake Michigan currents or floated in from downstream. I snapped a few photos of some larger pieces and one of the many birdhouses I have made with the thousands of smaller pieces we find!
Sunset after the Snowmelt at Pier Cove Beach
I’ve been lucky with sunsets. One day while I was literally standing in the shallows of the creek admiring smooth dried rocks lying on the wet sand, two deer came strolling by. One stopped for just a second before she saw me and ran off. But her fawn didn’t. I had just enough time to adjust my camera and push the shutter button at the last second. I was in such a hurry and didn’t know if I held the camera steady enough to get a clear shot. I’m so pleased it turned out to be a perfect silhouette with a backdrop of glimmering water and a pink colored sky! I believe it’s a sign for good things to come and nature’s spirit casting her light on us all!
