It’s the middle of January, and the Great Lakes are basically ice-free. Ice has been slow to form this year, with only 3.2% of the lakes covered as of Jan. 19. That's a near-record low, and roughly 18% below average for this time of year. And while it’s still unclear how things will shake out for the rest of the season, no ice isn’t a good thing for the lakes’ ecosystem. It can even stir up dangerous waves and lake-effect snowstorms. So, what happens when the lakes are ice-free? Swipe to learn more. Visit the link in bio for the full article.