Five ways climate change is stressing the Great Lakes

The Great Lakes aren’t immune to climate change and a new report indicates the impacts are already being felt — and will continue to worsen.

A new report from the Environmental Law and Policy Center, updating a 2019 report on climate change impacts in the region, found lake temperatures are warmer, ice cover is decreasing and algal blooms are becoming more common. These changes are affecting the hydrology, ecology and economy of the Great Lakes.

Here are five findings from the report and what the impacts mean for the Great Lakes.

1. Great Lakes states are getting warmer

The states surrounding the Great Lakes, including New York, are continuing to warm; average annual temperatures are 1.1 degrees warmer in 2017-24 than the 1986 to 2016 average and 2.5 degrees warmer than the 1901-1960 period. There are fewer nights with below freezing temperatures, as well. It’s not going to stop there: the report predicts there could be between 30 and 60 more days with temperatures warmer than 90 degrees by the end of the century. Increasing temperatures are likely to lead to drier land due to increased evaporation.

2. Great Lakes water is heating up

Four of the Great Lakes — Erie, Huron, Michigan and Ontario — experienced record-high average surface temperatures last year, based on NOAA observations. The historically warm temperatures impacted lake ice cover in the winter, too. 2024 saw the lowest average ice cover dating on record, with an average ice cover of 4.3%.

3. Precipitation patterns surrounding the lakes are affecting agriculture

As seasonal precipitation increases, wetter winters and springs but drier summers, means more irrigation demand during the growing season and delays in planting from sodden soil and springtime floods. Water management will become more important as winter and spring see an excess of precipitation, followed by summer and autumn deficits. Some solutions include better water storage or groundwater recharge. Warmer temperatures could also expand growing seasons and open new northern regions to agriculture, particularly corn and soybeans.

4. Data centers will increase water consumption

There were already 855 data centers in Great Lakes states, including five in the Rochester area and 22 near Buffalo. Data centers can use up to 5 million gallons a day, primarily for cooling, which leads to many locating near water sources like rivers and lakes. The report anticipates more data centers will attempt to site in the Great Lakes region due to the availability of water. It’s not just the demand of water that can have an impact, either. If a data center uses groundwater, the water is then discharged into surface water, changing local water flow patterns.

5. Warm temperatures will impact tourism and recreation

One benefit of living near the Great Lakes is the opportunity for recreation. Winter options like ice fishing are affected by reduced ice cover on the lakes. While a longer, warmer summer season could increase demand for beaches, like those found on Lake Ontario, contamination from algal blooms can degrade shoreline water quality. Heavier springtime rain can lead to more fertilizer wash-off, which can increase the likelihood of algal blooms.

— Steve Howe reports on weather, climate and the Great Lakes for the Democrat and Chronicle. An RIT graduate, he has covered myriad topics over the years, including public safety, local government, national politics and economic development in New York and Utah.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Great Lakes face tough climate challenges: Here are 5 ways