Four Season Cottages and Vacation Suites
On the Shore of Lake Superior
Grand Marais, Minnesota
December 2015
Dec 31: We have white overcast skies on top of a uniform gray Lake Superior to close out 2015. We have 2-3ft roller waves from the SE. Temperatures are pleasant in the 20's and our guests report great conditions for cross sountry skiing and dog sledding on the area trails.
Dec 30: Temps are in the 20's. We have about 3" of snow cover down along the shore with more than a foot up the trail. Skies are a gray overcast except for the dark, dark blue horizon across the lake. Lake Superior has 1ft light gray rollers from the SE.
Dec 29: The horizon toward northern Wisconsin and upper Michigan was a dark almost blackish blue, a sign of the massive storm traveling to there from southern Minnesota. We missed it entirely here with only a few snow flurries. Lake Superior had 5ft SE rollers generated by the winds from this storm. Overhead we had white overcast skies. Temps remained in the teens and 20's here near the lake. We saw a freighter all lit up passing tonight.
Dec 28: They are talking of an enormous storm heading across southern and central Minnesota. It looks like the predictors have Duluth right on te edge and Grand Marais missing it. We have overcast skies with snow flurries, we have strong winds which make the temperatures in the teens feel mich colder. The winds have generated 5ft gray rollers crashing into the Croftville shore from the SE. Teresa saw 2 freighters pass by today.
Dec 27: Ouch, it was cold this morning and stayed cold all day. We had a low of 12, climbed to a high of 18 this afternoon and is now down to 8. Had to shovel the couple inches of snow that fell yesterday along the shore. I here they have lots of snow on the ground starting at Pincushion Mountain. Skies were lightly overcast and the lake was a dark gray.
Dec 26: We drove in rain and snow all the way from the Twin Cities to Grand Marais today. We left around 10am from Prior Lake with 2" of fresh fluffy snow. Through Minneapolis and the northern suburbs it was a freezing mist. By the time we made it to Pine City everything turned to snow. Temperatures started at 30 in Minneapolis and steadily crept downward to 22 by the time we arrived in Grand Marais. Didn't really get to see the lake with the snow and darkness.
Dec 25: Merry Christmas. There is just enough of a crusty white covering on the ground in Rochester to justify calling it a white Christmas. Temperatures are in the upper 20's and skies are partly cloudy. Tomorrow we head back to Grand Marais after a wonderful family filled Christmas in Rochester.
Dec 24: There is a light dusting of snow in SE Minnesota this morning. It doesn't look good for a white Chritmas in this corner of the state. Temperatures are hovering in the low 30's. We wonder what it is like in Croftville without us there.
Dec 23: It is warm this morning with temps in the upper 30's as we get ready to go to Rochester for Christmas. This will be the first year away from Lake Superior for Christmas since we moved here in 2003. The slushy snow is melting fast and our driveways are shear ice. It may be a green Christmas near the shore if the predicted snow doesn't show up tomorrow.
Dec 22: There was a dusting of snow overnight. Today the skies are heavily overcast and Lake Superior is a dark blue gray. We have 1-2ft waves from the SE. Temps were in the low 30's when we got up and have stayed there all day long. The nights are extra long without the sun peeking out during the day this time of year. Dec 21: Lake Superior is grayish green with 1-2ft waves from the SE. Temps are in the 20's and 30's. Skies are lightly overcast.
Dec 20: Lake Superior is relatively calm today with 1-2ft brownish gray waves from the SE. Temperatures rose during the night and we woke up to 30 degrees, overcast skies, and a high of 36 this afternoon.
Dec 19: It is another cold day with a high of about 20. We have mostly cloudy skies with just a peak of the sun once in awhile. Lake Superior has 2-3ft waves from the south. The lake is a pale blue green today.
Dec 18: It is the first time this season that we have seen temperatures in the teens this morning. That is quite remarkable for Dec 18th. We pride ourselves as cold weather people but with the long spells of warm weather so far this winter, even teens feel really cold. We have clear blue skies overhead but over the lake we have a cauldron of dark clouds with rays of sunlight finding their way through here and there. It is good to see a little sunlight. Lake Superior has 2-3ft purple gray waves from SSW.
Dec 17: Temperatures dropped into the low 20's last night changing our slush to frozen ice. All the rain and 4 inches of snow down on the shore converted to 10-12" of wet snow up on the hill. We still had some some flurries today and just after dark we had about 2" of fluffy snow, it looked a lot like lake effect snow. Lake Superior continues to churn 4ft waves from the SE.
Dec 16: Snow and freezing rain is the order for the day. It is currently 9am and it is still quite dark outside with the heavy gray overcast skies and a light mist coming down with temps in the upper 30's. Lake Superior is a uniform bluish gray exccept for the whitecaps on the 3-4ft waves from the SE. The whitecaps are an uncharacteristic light gray.
Dec 15: Sleet and freezing rain from yesterday afternoon and last night left a 1/4" coat of ice everywhere in Croftville and the Grand Marais vicinity. Up the hill this sleet took the form of snow. It is colder this morning in the mid 20's but temps began to warm up later in the afternoon as a new storm front is moving in for tomorrow. Skies are dark and look like winter especially out near the horizon.
Dec 14: It is a bit cooler today with temps just above freezing. The big lake has 2 distinct bands, a brown band near the shore and an aquamarine band further out. The lake horizon is a dark purple whereas the rest of the sky is a light gray overcast. An old ore freighter passed by this morning as 4ft waves continued to pound the shore.
Dec 13: The lake is roaring today. We have 4-5ft waves from the SSW and we can begin to see a brown band along the edge of the lake due to runoff and the churning of the lakebed from the huge waves. It is raining/sleeting here in Croftvillle and I am sure it must be wet snow up on the trail. Once again our mild temps continue with highs in the low 40's. Dec 12: The sunrise gave us hope that we might see the sun today. We could see open skies and cloud banks over the lake but conditions changed rapidly back to the white overcast skies. Lake Superior after a brief splash of color at sunrise turned back to a gray monotone color the rest of the day. Temps once again stayed in the low 40's from sunrise to sunset.
Dec 11: It was another gray lake against a gray sky day today. There were a few snow flurries in the afternoon in spite of it being in the upper 30's. The funny part of the day is that it was coldest around noon in the low 30's but warmer in the morning and the evening. That doesn't happen very often.
Dec 10: No sun today. Lake Superior is gray against gray skies with 1ft waves and dark gray shadows from the ESE. The rain and drizzle has been constant since lat last night. Temps stayed near 40 last night and are in the low 40's today.
Dec 9: The sun is out today with mostly sunny skies. The temps are in the upper 40's but with the sun it feels much warmer than the past few days. Lake Superior is a deep blue with dark olive shadows and 1-2ft textured waves from the south.
Dec 8: Our mild weather continues waking up to temperatures in the 40's this morning. The skies are a light gray overcast. Lake Superior has 3-4ft waves from the south. The waves are a greenish gray near the shore and turn to a blue gray further out. None of the snow from last week is left here on the shore but I have heard there is still 3" of snow up the trail.
Dec 7: Lake Superior is a uniform gray with a textured surface and 1ft waves from the SSE. The sky on the horizon is streaked with bands of light blue and white but the sky overhead is a gray overcast. Temps continue to be mild with a low of 29 last night and highs in the low 40's today.
Dec 6: Not much sun today, it was just slightly overcast. Temps stayed above freezing last night and were in the mid 40's today. Lake Superior was blue with 2-3ft waves.
Dec 5: It is still amazingly warm. The frost on the Croftville Road pavement was gone by 9am. We had temps in the mid 40's today with lightly overcast skies. Lake Superior was a pure blue with 1-2ft waves.
Dec 4: It was a lightly overcast and yet warm day once again today starting in the upper 20's and climbing to 40. Lake Superior had 3ft steel blue waves from the SE. The waning moon is now less than half and could be watched setting in the morning skies.
Dec 3: It was a warm day with highs in the 40's and a low around 30. Lake Superior had 2-3ft aquamarine waves with spectacular white crests as the waves broke near shore.
Dec 2: The rain and snow is done leaving us with about a half inch of snow on the ground, mostly overcast skies, and temperatures once again in the upper 30's. Lake Superior is gray with 1-2ft roller waves from the SE.
Dec 1: It rained all night and all morning. Even though the temperatures were well into the 30's, the rain turned to wet snow in the afternoon and accumulated about an inch by nightfall. Lake Superior was a stormy gray with 2-3ft waves from the SSE.
November 2015
Nov 30: We have clear blue skies, a little mist rising off Lake Superior, and temps in the upper 30's. The lake has 1-2ft roller waves from the SSE.
Nov 29: We have warmed back up out of the 20's and are back in the 30's today. Lake Superior has 1-2ft blue waves from the ESE with navy shadows and white highlights on the crests of the waves. Overhead we have clear blue skies with an occasional wisp of a cloud passing by.
Nov 28: We got back to Duluth in time to see the blue textured surface of Lake Superior against a pale blue fuzzy horizon before it got dark. Temperatures were in the mid 30's in Duluth just before sunset.
Nov 27: We are still in southern Minnesota for one more day before heading back to our home in Grand Marais. Everyone who heres where we are from tell us how beautiful it is there and how much they hope to come back and visit Grand Marais again.
Nov 26: We are in southern Minnesota today celebrating Thanksgiving Day with our family. It is interesting to see how different the woods are here compared to the boreal forest. There are virtually no evergreens and the hardwood trees minimize the amount of underbrush you see particularly in the late fall.
Nov 25: Lake Superior has 2 horizontal bands this morning, a brownish orange band near the shore and a greenish blue band further out to the horizon. The lake has 1-2ft waves coming in straight from the SSE. Skies are uniformly overcast. Temperatures stayed near 40 all night. We are packing for Thanksgiving in southern Minnesota and will be passing our guests checking in on Interstate 35.
Nov 24: The sun popped up over the dark purple cloudbank on the horizon at 7:45 this morning. It was bright yellow and reflected yellow light on the textured but fairly calm surface of the periwinkle lake. Temperatures remained in the low 30's last night and may hit 40 today.
Nov 23: We woke up to almost an inch of snow accumulation this morning. Just enough to have to shovel the pathways this morning. Lake Superior is calm underneath the white overcast skies. Temps are just above freezing so it is unlikely the snow will stay. However, the boys in there snow ploughs and plough trucks had their toys out on the road to try them out for the first time this season.
Nov 22: We have mostly cloudy skies with large gray bottomed cumulus clouds with bright white tops. Temperatures are hovering around freezing. Lake Superior has 2-3ft bright blue waves from the south with dark green shadows.
Nov 21: It is the coldest day of the season so far with a high temp of 25 here along the lake. Lake Superior is a beautiful blue with light snow coming down intermittently.
Nov 20: The lake is silver with black shadows this morning as the sun works to rise up over the dark cloud mass over the lake and to the south. Overhead in Croftville we have blue skies with just a few wisps of clouds. Temperatures are in the upper 20's and the strong winds from the west from yesterday have subsided. The lake has 3-4ft waves from the south.
Nov 19: We had a dusting of snow today with temperatures hovering in the low 30's all day before dropping into the upper 20's at dark. Most of the day was either a mist or light snow. Lake Superior's waves were at 6-7ft and thunderous. The undulating din of the lake was almost deafening. The huge whitecaps and then the breaking waves near shore were a spectacular sight. We also saw a saltie and a freighter pass by to Duluth.
Nov 18: It rained all night and it looks like it is going to rain all day. We have moderate rain, overcast skies, and temperautures in the 50's. The 2 horizontal bands on Lake Superior are very pronounced today. The reddish brown band near the shore and the aqua green band further out. There are 2-3ft waves from the SE but no visible whitecaps.
Nov 17: It is a dark overcast day today with light rain that is intermittent at times. Temps stayed in the 40's last night and rose to 50 today. Lake Superior has a brown band near the shore and a greenish blue band further out. Waves are 2-3ft from the SE with textured surface.
Nov 16: Traveling to Duluth today we saw many ore freighters including one in Croftville as we left this morning. We picked up the rain just as we entered Lake County and the rain was with us the rest of the day. Temperatures stayed in the upper 40's. Fog was very thick at times especially near sunset.
Nov 15: What and amazing day for the ides of November. We have 50 degrees, clear blue skies, a brisk wind off the lake, and steel blue 2-3ft waves from the SE with dark navy shadows and whitecaps.
Nov 14: We woke up to 32 but quickly we were in the 40's where we stayed all day. Lake Superior was in fall roughness form today. The steel gray lake with strong 4ft waves from the south drowned out all other sounds when you were outside. Skies were mostly sunny and the sunrise and sunset were in spectacular arrays of colors with the wispy clouds near the horizon.
Nov 13: For Friday the 13th we were welcomed with a dusting of snow overnight. We had maybe a half inch acculmulation on the roofs and cars and it was all gone by 9am. Our daughter was disappointed that it snowed whil we were asleep so we haven't seen our first snowflakes falling from the sky yet. Temps are in the 30's and should make it into the 40's this afternoon before warming back up for next week. This sky is a light gray overcast except for the dark gray over the lake. Lake Superior is a purplish gray with 1-2ft rollers from the SE.
Nov 12: At first glance the lake seems calm but all of a sudden you hear a crashing sound and look up to see a 3-4ft smooth roller wave from the ESE hitting the shore about every 12-15 seconds. What a strange thing to see these large smoot waves spaced between what seems like a fairly calm lake. Temps dropped a little today positioning themselves in the 40's. With it we have intermittent light rain. I have my doubts we are going to see the predicted snow here along Lake Superior.
Nov 11: This may be our last day in the 50's for awhile. Colder temps and maybe even some wet snow are on the way. We had lightly overcast skies. The lake had 2ft grayish waves from the SE.
Nov 10: Lake Superior was quieter today with 1-2ft waves from the SE. It was a beautiful warm and mostly sunny day with highs again in the 50's. We could see some of our guests climbing and hiking the rocks on our shore and taking it all in.
Nov 9: It was into the 50's once again today as unseasonbly warm weather continues here along Lake Superior. There were clear blue skies over the lake with 3-4ft waves from the south pounding the shore.
Nov 8: Big waves, strong wind, and clear blue skies today in Croftville. The 3-4ft waves are blue with olive green shadows and whitecaps from the SSW. We hit a high of 52.
Nov 7: We have clear blue skies overhead with partly cloudy skies over the lake. We have 1-2ft long roller waves from the south on a textured lake surface. The lake is blue with green shadows and blinding white reflections from the sun.
Nov 6: It was lightly overcast day with a blue gray lake and strong winds coming from the SW. Temperatures hovered in the 40's and 50's.
Nov 5: After overcast skies and mist the skies finally opened up right after dark and dumped heavy rains on us. Temperautres were quite warm in the 50's.
Nov 4: We had fog and mist all day today here in Croftville. Temperatures hovered on either side of 50 degrees. You could see the first 100 yards before Lake Superior disappeared into the fog. The lake had 1-2ft blue gray waves from the SE for the little of the lake you could see.
Nov 3: With temperatures in the 50's it seems strange to say that Lake Superior looked like winter today, but it did. We had a black lake with 3-4ft waves from the SE and a mixture of whitecaps. The horizon carried a dark gray cloud front but overhead we had a moderately overcast sky. The wind off the lake was brisk.
Nov 2: It is a mostly cloudy morning. The sunrise over the lake is beautiful as the many colored lights stream through the cloud cover and reflect off the lake. Lake Superior is calm with a rippled sufrface. Overnight it only got to 42 and it will be another warm day here along the shore.
Nov 1: We traveled back to Grand Marais today from the twin cities. The unseasonably warm temperatures followed us all the way back with temperatures in the 50's the entire way. By the time we made it to Superior cloud cover had taken over the North Shore. Lake Superior was gray, calm, and had a ditinct horizon line which made it easy to spot the ore freighters even if they were a long ways off from shore.
October 2015
Oct 31: We traveled to southern Minnesota for a cross country meet at Como Park. Later on we were trick or treating with our daughter and grandchild. He had on a Grand Marais sweatshirt over his batman outfit that someone handing out candy saw. She said, "Oh I love Grand Marais, it is my favorite town in Minnesota."
Oct 30: It is a gray overcast day with light rain and mist at times. Temperatures began in the low 40's and ended with a high in the upper 40's. Lake Superior is a metallic gray with a hint od green in it. Waves have a few whitecaps and are 3-4ft from the SSW.
Oct 29: It was warm overnight in the 40's. We saw 3 ore freighters pass by us today. It is the time of year that they start taking the safer northerly route across Lake Superior. The lake is roaring today with 4-5ft waves from the SSE. Most of the day has been heavily overcast but every once in awhile the sun has teased us with its presence.
Oct 28: It rained all night and looks like it will rain all day. It stayed warm in the upper 40's last night. Lake Superior has 3-4ft waves crashing into the shore from the SE. The lake is a brownish gray except close to shore where it is a transluscent green.
Oct 27: It was a warm day here in Croftville starting in the 40's and still in the 50's at 8pm. Lake Superior was a steel gray with 3ft waves and many whitecaps. Skies were overcast with a light rain coming down at times.
Oct 26: We traveled to Duluth today moving from clear skies here in Grand Marais to rain in Duluth. Luckily, as we reversed our trip and headed back home we once again drove out of the rain and overcast back to clear skies here in Grand Marais. As we unloaded our vehicle the full moon was rising over Lake Superior.
Oct 25: There was a frozen thin coat of ice on everything this morning but temperatures warmed up quickly to a high of 52 with clear blue skies. Lake Superior is a deep sky blue with dark olive shadows with 1-2ft waves coming straight in from the SSE.
Oct 24: I spent the day up the Gunflint Trail and didn't return to Superior until after dark. The day began with rain and wind continuing from yesterday. By the afternoon only the wind remained, and by suppertime the wind was gone, too. Traveling back down the trail we enjoyed clear skies with a nearly full mooon.
Oct 23: It was dark today along Lake Superior. The rain didn't begin until about 2pm and I am surprised it didn't start earlier. Low temps were in the 30's and the high in the 50's. Lake Superior was a uniform gray.
Oct 22: It was a beautiful partly cloudy fall day in Croftville. We had a high in the 50's. Lake Superior was a sterling blue.
Oct 21: We had rain early this morning ending with the sunrise. The rest of the day was heavily overcast with temps ranging from the low 40's to the low 50's. Lake Superior was a uniform gray except for a narrow almost black band at the horizon. We had 1-2ft waves from the SSE.
Oct 20: Lake Superior built up waves all day long. By nightfall they were 3-5ft waves. The lake was a metallic gray with silver bands reflecting the sun that were almost blinding. Temps were comfortable with a low of 36 and a high of 52.
Oct 19: It was a beautiful fall day climbing into the low 60's this afternoon. Lake Superior was a brilliant blue with 1-2ft waves.
Oct 18: After a morning low of 30 we have clear blue skies and temperatures climbing rapidly into the 50's. We have 1-2ft waves coming straight in from the SSE. They are a dark sky blue with aqua green shadows.
Oct 17: We were down to 28 here on the lake. That is the end of any uncovered plants or flowers for this year. It was a gorgeous albeit cold fall day here on Lake Superior with a high in the mid 40's. We had partly cloudy skies with thin wispy clouds and plenty of sun. Those blue skies reflected off the calm water on the lake and the crescent moon did the same after night fell.
Oct 16: We started with a frosty 31 degrees here on the lake. The word is out that there will be a killing frost tonight. Although a bit chillier today, it should be a beautiful fall day with clear blue skies as the backdrop for a clear blue lake. Superior is calm this morning with a textured surface.
Oct 15: We had a little bit of everything today both from the sky and from the lake. Waves grew all day long until we had 4-5ft waves by late afternoon from the SSW. The deafening sound of the waves was in harmony with the sounds of the wind. Overhead we had quick moving cumulus clouds disrupt our clear skies. Every once in a while those clouds would douse us with a short rain. Temps began in the upper 30's and found their way to the upper 50's.
Oct 14: There was plenty of frost in Croftville but our temperature still showed 40 degrees next to thje lake. It is a beautiful red-orange sunrise against purple clouds over the lake and a blue Lake Superior with 1ft roller waves from the south. We are distinctly past peak colors now with the winds on Sunday stripping many leaves from the trees. You can begin to see futher into the boreal forest.
Oct 13: The morning started with an ore freighter heading towards Duluth just outside our place. We had partly cloudy skies that sometimes changed into a full overcast sky. The 60's of yesterday have been replaced with 40's and 50's today. Lake Superior is a uniform blue and realtively calm with small waves from the south in spite of the large winds we heard overnight.
Oct 12: The day started with clear blue skies but soon the skies clouded up and by noon we had a mist that turned into a light rain all afternoon. Lake Superior has 3-4ft waves from the SSE no doubt propagated by the high winds reported near Duluth. Here we have a brisk breeze but nothing too severe.
Oct 11: It was an unseasonably warm day with temps in the 60's all day. We had clear skies but hazy near the horizon. There was plenty of wind and a bright blue lake with 2ft waves. We went and hiked Mount Josephine in Grand Portage and enjoyed the panaramic views.
Oct 10: The waves have changed directions and picked up today. We have 3-4ft black and blue waves pounding the shore from the SSW. There are cloudy skies with very little sun but temps have climbed into the 60's this afternoon.
Oct 9: It is a mostly cloudy day here on Croftville Road. Lake Superior is a bluish gray with a textured surface but no discernable waves. There is a black narrow band at the horizon. Temps are in the 40's and 50's.
Oct 8: Rain started falling late last night and rained steady all through the night and this morning. This afternoon the skies remained heavily overcast and misted at times. Lake Superior had a wintery look to it with purplish horizon against a slate colored lake with only small 1ft waves from the SE.
Oct 7: It was 37 this morning in Croftville. This was the first time this fall that we dropped into the 30's alongside the lake. It was also a stunningly beautiful autumn day. A light breeze, blue skies, and temps quickly climbing into the upper 50's. The colors are at peak or just past peak here along the lake and it was a perfect day for a hike in the forest. Lake Superior is a brilliant blue.
Oct 6: We woke up to 44 and a beautiful red sunrise. The clear blue skies quickly brought our temperatures rising towards the 60's. Lake Superior is a dark dark blue with dazzling white reflections from the sun. The direction of the 1ft waves has changed to the south.
Oct 5: We have cloudy skies today. The sun was able to peak out under the clouds at sunrise before rising into the cloud cover. The morning low is 44 next to Superior. The lake is a grayish blue against a bright blue horizon line. Waves are 1ft rollers from the SE with a textured surface. Yesterday was a perfect day for a fall hike in the colored forest.
Oct 4: Here along the shore we are certainly in peak color right now. I am surprised the wind from yesterday didn't blow more of the colorful leaves off the trees but they are still hanging on. Lake Superior has calmed down to 2ft waves this morning and is a light blue with navy shadows with blinding white reflections of the sun as it rises in the east.
Oct 3: What an awesome fall day along Lake Superior. Temperatures ranged in the low 40's to low 50's. We had partly cloudy skies with small cumulus clouds dirfting by. We had a brisk wind that helped generate striking whitecaps and thunderous 4-5ft waves on Lake Superior from the ESE. The lake itself was a deep blue that turned almost black by late afternoon except for a band of brown near the shore from all the churning up of the lake bottom from the waves.
Oct 2: With a low of 45 and clear blue skies this morning it is going to be another wonderful fall day along Lake Superior. Fall colors here in Croftville are nearing or are now at peak.We do have partly cloudy skies looking toward the south over the lake. The lake itself is a dark blue with dark olive green shadows and silver highlights. The waves are surprisingly loud for 1-2ft crests from the SE.
Oct 1: Temperatures dropped only to 40 last night along the lake although most areas inland had frost. October starts just like Septemeber ended with highs in the 50's and clear blue skies. Lake Superior was an almost blackish blue with 3-4ft waves and a strong wind from the SE. There were many whitecaps. If you could get out of the wind it was warm, if not, you couldn't get warm. In the afternoon we watched a dark sky pass to our north but conditions here stayed ideal.
September 2015
Sept 30: It is a beautiful fall day here in Croftville. Highs are again in the 50's and we have clear skies. Lake Superior is a deep piercing blue with 3ft waves from the SE whose crests are blindingly white as they reflect the sun.
Sept 29: We sat by a fire tonight and watched the moon rise right on the edge of the lake to the east. From our beach the large orange full orb came up right between an outcropping of ledgerock and a balsam fir. The skies were clear and it was quite chilly dropping quickly in the 40's after the sunset. As the moon rose it became white and its refecting light off the lake was almost blinding.
Sept 28: The moon is rising over the lake and is spectacular with the reflections off the water. Today was a gorgeous fall day with temps in the 50's and the sun finding its way out for the afternoon. Lake Superior was a pale blue and had the look of a winter lake with dark skies near the horizon.
Sept 27: I saw a full moon through our window early this morning around 4am. With that I knew the fog of yesterday had finally lifted. We have blue skies this morning with wispy clouds. It is hazy over the lake but we can see the horizon. We have 2-3ft pale blue roller waves from the SE with dark blue shadows. Temperautres are in the low 50's and should warm up with the sun.
Sept 26: It was heavy fog when we woke up, fog all day, and fog when we went to bed all along the North Shore today. We never saw the big lake even once all the way to Duluth and back to Croftville. Temperatures remained in the mid 50's all day.
Sept 25: There was no rain today but the heavy dew from this morning never left the entire day. We had lightly overcast skies with bouts of fog coming in to shore at times. Lake Superior was a light gray with hints of blue.
Sept 24: It rained through most of the night and started back up again this morning. The rain is not as steady as yesterday and the overcast skies are not as dark. Temps dropped into the 40's last night and are in the low 50's today. Lake Superior is a dark gray with a blue tint except near the shore which is brown from the runoff. There are 2-3ft waves from the SE with olive green shadows.
Sept 23: The rain began about 10:30 this morning. Boy, this was a soaker that was steady all through the day and most of the night. The skies were quite dark, the darkness you usually associate with late fall and early winter. Lake Superior continued to crash its 3ft dark gray waves against our shore. Temperatures were in the 50's.
Sept 22: The skies are still clear blue but they say rain is on the way. Lake Superior is gorgeous with 1-2ft blue waves. Trees are beginning to show the change of color nearly everywhere. Temps are in the 50's and 60's.
Sept 21: Fall is officially here, but it feels like summer today. Clear blue skies and temperatures are expected to get into the 70's here along the shore. Gitche Gumi has 2-3ft waves from the SE buffeting the shore. The lake is a silver blue with black shadows.
Sept 20: It was a warm day along the shore with clear blue skies and temps in the upper 60's. A brisk wind from multiple directions felt refreshing when you were outside. The lake had 2-3 foot sky blue waves with navy shadows and silver highlights.
Sept 19: We woke up to a morning low of 46 but the sun with the clear skies is warming things up nicely. The heavy dews we are used to seeing in the fall are here in full force and you can't walk through the grass in the morning without getting your feet drenched. Lake Superior only has ripples on it this morning which I think might be from the 2 boats that I can see out enjoying the calm waters.
Sept 18: What a difference a day can make. We are back to clear blue skies, overnight temps in the 50's, and highs in the upper 60's. Lake Superior is a brilliant blue with silver highlights on the 1-2ft waves.
Sept 17: It was a dark and rainy day here on the North Shore. Rain came down in just about every way imaginable, with lightning and thunder, raining cats and dogs, a light drizzle, and everything inbetween. The sky at times was black and the lake was a dark dark gray with 2-3ft waves banging into the shore.
Sept 16: We had a muggy and warm day along Lake Superior with a high of 76. Skies were once again clear blue with a little white haze at the horizon. Because of the warmth we could sit out by the fire and enjoy the lake and watch the stars come out. The Milky Way was brilliant and alive without any moonlight to dull it. Lake Superior had 2-3ft smooth gray waves from the SSE as the sun got lower in the sky at dusk.
Sept 15: We have clear blue skies this morning with 1-2ft waves from the SE. The waves are a light blue one shade darker than the sky with navy shadows except ner the shore where the shadows are more of a dark olive green.
Sept 14: It was a warm clear blue sky day along Lake Superior. The waves began with 3-4ft crashing waves from the SE in the morning but gradually calmed to just 6" waves by evening. Temps climbed into the upper 60's.
Sept 13: It was another gorgeous fall day here in Croftville. There was plenty of sun, highs in the low 60's and lows in the 40's. Lake Superior waves grew to 3-5 feet by evening coming from the south. The lake was an unusually dark blue, you could almost call it black and it was striking against the light blue sky.
Sept 12: Perfect September weather along the big lake. We woke to temps in the low 40's that rose into the mid 60's. The lake was a deep sky blue with 1-2ft waves from the rare direction of the SSW. Overhead we had plenty of sun with a cool wind that sometimes was even cold when it came dirsctly off the lake.
Sept 11: It was a day meant to play hooky. I kept saying to myself I should be out hiking on such a gorgeous day. We woke up to temps in the 40's that warmed into the low 60's in the sun. The breeze off the lake was cold but refreshing. Lake Superior was a steel blue with 203ft waves with silver highlights crashing into the shore from the south.
Sept 10: It was a beautiful sunny day along Lake Superior with a high in the low 60's. Lake Superior 2-3ft sky blue waves coming straight in from the SSE. A cool breeze made it feel more like it was in the 50's.
Sept 9: It was cold overnight with temps dipping into the upper 40's here along the lake. The sun helped it to rebound into the upper 60's. Lake Superior was blue with small 1ft waves coming in from the ESE.
Sept 8: There are 3 boats out on the lake this morning enjoying the calm waters with 1ft silver blue waves from SE. We have cloudy skies with light gray clouds. The exception is the dark blue streak at the horizon. Temperatures are in the 60's this morning and should creep into the 70's this afternoon. We had a couple intense thunderstorms pass through last night.
Sept 7: It was another warm day in Croftville as summer comes to a close and school begins tomorrow. Temperatures began the day at 68 and rose into the mid 70's along the lake. We had some sun, we had some intense rain overnight, and we had plenty of humidity in the air.
Sept 6: In Croftville we have 2ft silver blue waves with navy shadows from the south today. The horizon has been hazy all day and it has been hot and muggy here. Of course, by hot I mean in the upper 70's with a low this morning of 69 degrees. And by muggy, well, I guess most people in the Twin Cities would envy this weather in comparison.
Sept 5: Lake Superior has silver 1ft waves from the SE that gently swoosh against the shore this morning. Overnight temperatures got down only to 66 degrees even though we had rain overnight which you would have thought would cool things down more. We have the unusual case of the skies overhead being overcast while the sky over the lake is clear. The horizon is bright and distinct on the lake.
Sept 4: It was a warm day in Croftville starting in the mid 60's and reaching the upper 70's. Last night was a great night to sit out by a fire and take in Superior. You could balance the sound of the crackling fire with the rustling of the small waves against the shore.
Sept 3: It was a calm lake in Croftville today. We started with fog which mostly burned off by noon but kept the high temps in then 70's.
Sept 2: It looked like rain this morning and it got as far as Lutsen but never made it to Grand Marais. The fog burned off and we had slightly hazy skies and a calm pale blue lake for the rest of the day. High temps hovered right around 70 degrees.
Sept 1: September begins with heavy fog over the lake and heavy dew covering everything on the land. It cooled off only into the mid 60's last night so if this fog burns off it could be a very warm day. The lake is almost white with light gray shadows with 2ft smooth rolling waves swooshing against the shore from the SSE.
August 2015
Aug 31: It was fun to see the big lake today again after 2 days in southern Minnesota. We dropped our son off at Lake Harriet this morning in Minneapolis. Lake Harriet is a beautiful lake but I almost forgot that it is normal to see to the opposite shore. It was 85 when we got to Duluth this afternoon and as we headed up the shore the temperature was maintained until we got to a fog bank around Beaver Bay. Immediately the temperature dropped to 66 degrees as we traveled through the fog all the way to Lutsen. By the time we got to Grand Marais the fog had retreated but the temperature was still a comfortable 75 degrees.
Aug 30: It is always shocking to see the smog that surrounds the Twin Citites. The news reporters say the fires in the west are contributing to the haze but I never noticed this haze when I lived in SE Minnesota and now I always notice it every time I visit. It was a warm sunny day in Saint Paul but the morning overcast helped keep the high in the low 80's. Overall, it was a beautiful day to spend at the Minnesota State Fair.
Aug 29: We traveled to southern Minnesota today leaving Lake Superior behind for 2 days. It was bright blue with 2ft waves from the south. Our son said goodbye to Grand Marais and Gitche Gumi until Christmas. We will miss him and he will miss the lake.
Aug 28: We got a little rain this afternoon but we had a huge thunderstorm. It sounded like the sky was falling. Lake Superior, on the other hand, was a calm as could be with only 6" blue gray smooth waves from the SE. Temps rose into the upper 60's but it felt much colder than this with the breeze coming off the lake.
Aug 27: Lake Superior was calm and sky blue today. We had clear skies over the lake until late afternoon when some clouds started showing up. Temperatures climbed into the upper 60's.
Aug 26: We are waking up to clear blue skies and temperautres in the upper 50's already at 9am. Lake Superior only has ripples on it shiny pale blue surface. Further out there are white shiny blotches and near the horizon there are 2 wide dark navy blue bands. The fishing boat is sitting in one of the white blotches.
Aug 25: The overcast skies made it feel like it could rain any minute but it never did. We finally saw the sun later in the day. It was cold today with temperatures only in the 50's. Lake Superior was a metallic gray with large whitecaps out away from the shore. Waves near the shore were 3-4ft in amplitude.
Aug 24: Lake Superior was amazingly loud last night and I can only imaging the waves since they had subsided down to 3ft by this morning. The waves are now from the SSW. The sun tried to sneak out several times today but only between bouts of rain and very threatening looking cloud fronts. The wind was also very strong and didn't let up all day. Temperatures didn't even make 60 today and I think it will be a cold night. There was an awesome rainbow this evening and a sky and lake with so many vibrant colors that words would only do a diservice to what we saw.
Aug 23: We had mostly overcast skies and heavy rain at times. Lake Superior really got pumped up later in the day with 4-5ft gray swells that broke thundering into the shore from the SE. Temperatures stayed in the 60's but it became humid and almost uncomfortable later in the day.
Aug 22: We have lightly overcast skies this morning and a fuzzy horizon. Lake Superior is a faint blue with bright silver highlights with a partially visible sun reflecting off the 1-2ft wave crests from the SE. It is already in the upper 60's by mid-morning so it could be a warm afternoon.
Aug 21: It was a comfortable day in Croftville. Cool temperaures in the 50's and 60's. Some sun and some clouds. Lake Superior was a pale blue gray with 1-2ft waves and silver highlights.
Aug 20: The rain mostly ended by early afternoon although it did rain for awhile around 5pm while the sun was shining. Lake Superior had 1ft waves from the south. The color was a light blue with navy shadows. Temps stayed on the cool side barely climbing into the 60's today.
Aug 19: Boy, did it rain today. It rained hard, sometimes it rained light, but it never stopped all day long waking up to rain and going to sleep in the rain. The good news was all this rain was a great test for the waterproofness of our inn. It passed with flying colors. Temperatures stayed in the 60's. Lake Superior had waves at times topping 4-5ft. The lake was a uniform bluish gray.
Aug 18: They say constant rain for 2 days is on the way this evening. We probably could use a good soaking rain here in Croftville. Today, however was beautiful. Temps were cooler and in the 60's. Lake Superior was a brilliant blue except near shore where the clearness of the water allowed us to see every rock on the lake bed. Waves were 1-3ft in height from the ESE.
Aug 17: The morning started with 2ft waves on Superior but by evening the lake was calm. Temps today lingered in the upper 60's and low 70's. Skies were slightly overcast and around 6pm the visibility had dropped to zero on the lake.
Aug 16: The strong breeze kept changing our weather today. Depending on its direction there were times it was uncomfortably warm and times it was incomfortably cool. Of course, we had everything inbetween. Lake Superior had 2-3ft waves from the SE that were quite vocal as they hit the shore. The blue lake had a number of white bands in it near the horizon.
Aug 15: It was 93 on the hill in Duluth yesterday. But today in Croftville the high was a pleasant 75. We had partly cloudy skies with light wispy clouds. Lake Superior was quite still and a pale robin's egg blue with some white horizontal bands near the horizon.
Aug 14: Lake Superior has 1ft silver waves with sky blue shadows from the SE this morning. There are clear blue skies overhead changing to a white mist at the horizon. It was warm overnight with a low of only 69 here on Croftville Road. I think it is going to be a hot day here in Croftville.
Aug 13: Temperatures are in the 70's and it feels hot out today. Lake Superior is a deep sky blue with 2ft waves from the SSE with silver highlights. Overhead we have clear blue skies after some rain storms passed by last night.
Aug 12: Temps were in the 60's today, with a little higher humidity than we are used to. Lake Superior was calm this morning but waves grew to 2ft from the south by evening.
Aug 11: It was a warm sunny day here in Croftville. Temperautres stayed in the 60's and Lake Superior was fairly peaceful with 1-2ft waves from the south.
Aug 10: It was a sunny day until late afternoon when a thundershower passed through. By nighttime we had clear skies and bright stars to gaze on once again. The day was a bit muggy by North Shore standards so in hindsight it was not surprising that a thunderstorm popped up in the late afternoon. Temperatures just barely got to 70 and the breeze off the lake gave us relief each time we though we might be getting hot.
Aug 9: The fog is here again today. I suspect there are clear blue skies up on the hill but visibility on Lake Superior is about 30ft before it turns into an inpenetrable white mist. Temperautres remain in the 60's and it wasn't much cooler than that overnight. The 30ft of the lake that we can see has small 1ft light gray waves.
Aug 8: We had an intense fog all day until 4:00pm here in Croftville. The dew on the grass never did evaporate even when the fog was replaced with mostly cloudy skies later on. Temperatures rose into the upper 60's but without any breeze and all the moisture in the air it felt warm. Lake Superior had 1-2ft waves but you couldn't really see them with virtually no visibility out on the lake with the fog.
Aug 7: The rain began last night and continued off and on all day today. The skies are heavily overcast and dark with no sun peaking out at all. Lake Superior had 2ft colorless dark waves from the ESE today. There was no horizon line as the mist and fog over the lake limited visibility to a couple hundred feet at most. We had a high in the low 60's.
Aug 6: Cloudy conditions kept us from the sun both over and around Lake Superior today. Temps rose into the 70's anyway. The lake was a dark gray with only small 6 inch to 1ft waves.
Aug 5: Lake Superior was peaceful today with only a rustling of small waves breaking on the shore.
Aug 4: Lake Superior had several bands in it today. They are of different shades of blue and white and several different textures. There are 2 narrow white bands sandwiching a narrow navy band. The surface is waveless but some of the bands are highly textured. It is cool today with a high only in the mid 60's. Skies overhead are mostly cloudy with just a little sun once in awhile.
Aug 3: It was a windy day here in Croftville with highs in the upper 60's. Lake Superior had 2ft waves and the sky was partly cloudy.
Aug 2: There was rain overnight but beautiful weather today with highs in the low 70's and partly sunny skies.
Aug 1: We have a cool breeze down here in Croftville. There is plenty of sun and blue skies but we never quite got to 70 today. Lake Superior has 1-2ft blue waves with navy shadows from the SSE. There may be a fog bank out near the horizon or it may just be a mirage, I cannot tell.
July 2015
July 31: I found out today that the huge waves on the 29th picked my canoe up off the rocks on the shore, swallowed it up, and smashed it on the rocks about 150ft down the shore. It is completely my fault, I underestimated Lake Superior which often ends up being a fatal mistake. I am lucky only my canoe died. I will miss it greatly, I bought it when my son was 3 years old and introduced the BWCA to him through it. It was a dependable old friend.
July 30: It was a picture perfect day here in Croftville. A high in the low 70's, partly cloudy skies with big puffy cumulus clouds, and a clear bright blue lake that gradually settled down from 3-4ft waves this morning to just 1-2ft waves this evening.
July 29: Strong winds overnight and today have generated huge waves crashing on our shore. The gray waves are 5-6ft and from the south. Skies are mostly overcast but every once in awhile we get a glimpse of the sun. Temperatures only managed to get into the mid 60's today and in the wind it is almost chilly.
July 28: The day had plenty of fog and overcast skies. It was almost muggy by Grand Marais standards a high in the upper 70's and feeling like it could rain any minute even though it never did. Superior grew it waves to 3ft from the SE. The waves were an aqua green near the shore and turned to a sky blue futher out. Even though the waves were large there were no whitecaps except for the breaking waves on the shore.
July 27: Lake Superior was still and silent last night adn this morning. The afternoon brought 1ft waves from the SSE. The lake was a pure blue with fog that would move in and out during the afternoon. Things would cool down when the fog came in and warm back up to near 80 when the fog went back out.
July 26: It is only in the 70's today but it would probably be much hotter if not for the fog over the lake and partly over the shore. Lake Superior is a deep sky blue with navy shadows on the 1ft waves. The lake disappears into fog about 100 yards off the shore which is kind of eerie.
July 25: It was a beautiful warm day on Lake Superior with a high in the upper 70's, a cool breeze off the lake, and clear blue skies. Lake Superior had 1-2ft bright blue waves from the SSE.
July 24: I traveled to Grand Rapids today to pick my daughter up from camp. It is remarkable how much warmer it is inland. It was between 86 and 84 all the way from Grand Rapids to Sliver Bay before going down to Highway 61. Once we were by Superior it was between 71 and 74 all the way back to Grand Marais. Lake Superior had pockets of lingering fog all day after the morning showers.
July 23: The day started with an isolated rainstorm but once the heavy downpour passed by we returned to partly cloudy skies, a blue almost motionless Lake Superior, and a white haze over the horizon. They said that temperatures reached 79 in Grand Marais but it didn't quite that warm in Croftville.
July 22: It was another picture perfect day in Grand Marais. Plenty of sun, partly cloudy skies, a breeze, and a high of 75. Lake Superior had 1-2ft blue waves from the south. My quote of the season was from one of our guests who responded to my apology for not getting the pilot for the gas stoves lit for the night. She said, "I left the windows and doors wide open, it was cold and I loved it."
July 21: It was a picture perfect day in Grand Marais. We had blue partly cloudy skies, plenty of sun, a bright blue lake with 2ft waves, a nice breeze, and a high of 75. Tonight near sunset the lake was periwinkle with a baby blue sky at the horizon.
July 20: It was a warm day in Croftville with a high in the upper 70's down here along the lake. Luckily, we had a nice breeze off the lake or it might have been much warmer. Lake Superior had 2ft blue waves, some sun, and some overcast skies.
July 19: Lake Superior was loud last night but waves had calmed down by morning before picking up again later in the afternoon. Temperautres only made it to the low 70's but would have been much warmer if not for the cool refreshing breeze.
July 18: Croftville was fogged in most of the day with the only exception early this morning and at sunset. Lake Superior was a medium blue with 1-2ft waves from the south. Some of the clouds at sunset were quite impressive in height.
July 17: Lake Superior has the largest waves I have seen in 2 months. They were 3-4 foot swells that were thunderous when they hit the shore from the SSW. Lake Superior had a blue horizon at sunset with purple clouds in the sky and a purple lake in the foreground. Temps hit 75 today.
July 16: We woke up to a 40 minute rainstorm that according to the radar maps wasn't happening. That was a pretty hard rainstorm for something that didn't happen. The rest of the day was overcast but produced no more rain. Lake Superior was a steel blue gray with 1-2ft waves again from the SE. Temperatures flirted with 70 degrees.
July 15: Lake Superior had 1-2ft sky blue waves from the SE against a clear blue sky this morning. Skies turned to a white overcast this afternoon. Temps stayed in the 60's today with a high of 69 beside the lake.
July 14: We woke to clear blue skies with a hazy horizon over Lake Superior. Superior has 1-2ft silver waves with navy shadows from the SE. Looks like it could be a warm day with the tempertature already 64 degrees at 8am. July 13: The first wave of rain rolled in about 10pm last night. Other waves followed overnight. By this morning we had steady rain that was heavy at times that lasted until about 8pm. Lake Superior had dark gray 1-2ft waves from the south. Temperatures stayed in the 60's with a high around 70.
July 12: Rain with overcast skies followed by clear skies and sun is the pattern that was repeated several times today. We had a high in the low 70's. Lake Superior was calm and we could see all the rocks on the lake bed. We can also begin to see algea blooms growing on some of the rocks. This seems a bit early but the unusually calm lake over the past month has probably warmed the water near the shore and allowed for the eralier than normal growth.
July 11: We have clear skies overhead but a blinding white mist over the lake this morning in Croftville. The surface is white except for a dark narrow band about a quarter mile out that looks like some sort of current moving parallel with the shore. It stayed in the 60's last night which is probably the warmest night this summer. Temperatures are already in the upper 60's this morning.
July 10: Warm, sunny, and blue skies. Lake Superior had 6" light blue waves from the SE.
July 9: We traveled to Duluth today. It is truly remarkable how much warmer it becomes as you move up over the hill away from the lake. We went from temperatures in the 50's and 60's to temperatures in the 70's and 80's in just a few miles. Lake Superior was beautiful today with sun shining down on its deep sky blue surface.
July 8: Lake Superior has small 6" waves from the SE. Most of the lake is a faint blue except for a band of dark purplish blue near the horizon. Overhead we have wispy clouds in a predominately sunny sky. There is a light breeze off the lake but temperautres should get close to 70 this afternoon.
July 7: It was a sunny warm day in Croftville with temps in the 60's along the lake. Lake Superior was blue with 6" waves from the SE. Our lilacs are now past peak but the lupines are flowering.
July 6: A huge thunderstorm hit about 10pm last night lighting up the sky and bringing down heavy rain. Temperatures stayed in the 60's all night long and are still in the 60's today. Lake Superior is a grayish white and mostly calm. Visibility is limited to a couple hundred feet. A light rain began at sunrise and has continued through the day.
July 5: Lake Superior has 1ft light blue waves from the SE today. Temperatures made it into the 60's but the breeze off the lake made it feel colder. Overhead was a bright white overcast that was continuous all the way to the horizon.
July 4: The fog rolled in at 5pm. Before that it has been a beautiful day with plenty of sun and temperatures in the low 60's. Lake Superior is mostly calm with only ripples that don't seem to have a particular direction. Once again it is the Fourth of July and our lilacs are in full bloom.
July 3: Lake Superior was glass this morning and turned to a rippled surface as the day progressed. We had a reddish orange moon when we got up in the middle of the night. There was plenty of sun for everyone this afternoon.
July 2: We had a rainstorm in the evening after a rainless overcast day. Lake Superior was almost glass and a pale blue turning to a white mist at the horizon. Temps were in the 60's in Croftville.
July 1: With temperatures in the 60's throughout the day July does feel like summer. We started with sunny skies which soon turned to a white overcast. Lake Superior was a pale blue with 6" waves from the SE.
June 2015
June 30: It was clear and sunny today in Croftville. Lake Superior had 6" light blue waves from the SE. Temps climbed into the upper 60's.
June 29: Thunderstorms came along every couple hours today. Lake Superior was calm and a pale purplish blue until disappearing in to the white fog background. Temps were in the 60's and maybe hit 70 but once again by Lake Superior standards it was muggy.
June 28: Skies are overcast. We have intermittent rain. The lake is glass and a pale gray with limited visibility from fog out away from shore. By Grand Marais standards I would almost dare say it is humid with temps in the low 60's.
June 27: It was a beautiful, warm day along the big lake. Temps were in the 60's and we had partly sunny skies. The clouds at times threatened precipitation but it never came to us. The dirty blue lake mustered up 1-2ft waves and a few whitecaps from the SE.
June 26: It was a sunny day with clear blue skies, temperatures in the 50's and 60's, and the lake was glass. The fog was able to form over the lake and the surrounding hills as the day came to an end.
,br> June 25: We had several bouts of rain today separated by decent weather. Temps were in the 50's. There was ample fog, and Lake Superior was completely still.
June 24: And the rain came back, the very next day. We had heavy scattered showers all day long today in Croftville. Temperatures were warm in the 60's. Lake Superior was a dark blue with 2-3ft waves from the south. These were the biggest waves we have seen in several weeks. Of course visibility was pretty limited with the fog over the lake moving in and out all day long.
June 23: The rain is done, the skies are clear, we are already at 60 degrees, and it is going to be a beautiful day in Croftville. We have 1ft silver blue waves from the SSW with navy shadows on Superior. There was a display of northern lights out last night that entertained my children for an hour or more.
June 22: We had lots of rain today. There was a steady heavy rain from 10 to noon. This was followed by a steady light rain from noon to 5. Then after a 2 hour break a thunderstorm hit us. Skies finally cleared about 9pm. Lake Superior was gray and mostly not visible yesterday with the rain and fog.
June 21: It was a beautiful Sunday on Croftville. A bank of fog could be seen out over the lake. Lake Superior had 1ft blue waves with navy shadows from the SE. Temperatures hovered in the 50's and 60's.
June 20: We had steady rain all day with temps staying in the 40's and 50's. Lake Superior has a gray mist over its 1ft blue gray waves with black shadows from the SE. It is a good day to curl up near a fire, read a good book, and gaze at the lake.
June 19: Temperatures are again in the 60's with overcast white skies. Lake Superior is glass with only an occasional ripple which I think is mostly from boat traffic on the lake. There are many more boats than we usually see out on Superior today. Visibility is pretty limited and at times we cannot see more than 100 yards from the shore before the lake and sky meld into a great white mist.
June 18: Temperatures are in the 60's with overcast white skies. It feels like we could get rain. Lake Superior has smooth 6" waves from the SE and light blue gray with bands of darker color in places.
June 17: Temperatures barely made it into the 50's today in spite of mostly sunny skies. Lake Superior was calm but there was a nice breeze coming off of it which is probably why things stayed so cool in spite of the sun.
June 16: It got down into the low 40's last night by the lake but warmed up quickly this morning with clear blue skies. Lake Superior is bright blue with silver highlights with 6" waves coming straight in from the SSE.
June 15: Our apple tree is finally in bloom along Croftville Road. It is usually the last of the trees to have blossoms. However, our lilac bush is still about 2 weeks from full bloom. Lake Superior is waveless but with a blue gray textured surface and dark navy shadows. The fog has lifted off the lake for the first time in many days around noon. Overhead we have partly sunny skies with temps climbing into the 70's.
from the SE.
June 14: We have a still Sunday morning with only the sound of the birds to break the silence. Skies overhead are partly sunny with big puffy cumulus clouds passing by. The sky over the lake is obscured by a fog. Once again Lake Superior is as still as glass and we see more vessels than usual out enjoying the calm waters. It got down into the low 40's last night.
June 13: Our string of calm days on Lake Superior continues. We have a pale blue still lake with a light fog positioned over it. Without the reflections from the waves you can see every rock on the lake bed. Over the land we have partly cloudy skies and temperatures that barely made it to 60 today.
June 12: It was sunny and warm today in Croftville with temps in the upper 60's and low 70's. Lake Superior was calm once again with only ripples until late afternoon. Then as the fog that had hung out over the lake most of the day beagn to move in, the lake surface developed a textured band.
June 11: Lake Superior was glass today, not even a ripple. The fog hung over the lake maybe a quarter mile from shore. Overhead the sky was clear and sunny and temperatures once again rose into the 60's.
June 10: It was a calm day on Lake Superior with no noticable waves. Skies were partly cloudy and temperatures were in the upper 60's. The pin cherries and elderberries are blossoming. The lake is a pale blue whose smooth surface is broke occasionally by kayakers passing by.
June 9: It looked like we were just minutes away from rain most of the day but no appreciable rain ever came down. There was light fog over the still grayish blue lake. It was almost too quiet without the sound of waves breaking on the rocks. Temperatures hit the high 60's today along the shore.
June 8: It is such a great sight to see Lake Superior when coming over Thompson Hill and descending into Duluth. It used to be a sigh of relief that meant we had left the life in southern Minnesota behind. Now it is a sigh of relief that means we are home. It was hazy with a light fog as we entered Duluth but by the time we got to Grand Marais it was a heavy fog and the temperatures had sunk from 80 on tope of the hill in Duluth to 46 in Grand Marais.
June 7: We are away from Lake Superior today attending the Faribault High School graduation today. A great thunderstorm just glanced by us in Faribault. It was an impressive sight and helped to cool off a hot and humid day. Tomorrow we travel back to Grand Marais.
June 6: We are away from Lake Superior today attending the Mayo High School graduation in Rochester. It is warm and muggy by Grand Marais standards but at times it was sunny and breezy. My nephew checked his smart phone and told me it was currently 42 and foggy in Grand Marais, a 35 degree difference.
June 5: It is warmer today and already into the upper 50's by noon. Lake Superior is a light blue gray with still quite a bit of fog out there limiting visibility. The surface is smooth with smal waves from the SE.
June 4: Cold (40's) and rain (steady all day from before sunrise to sunset) was what we had in Croftville today. As far as for the lake, a calm light blue gray for what little we could see of it. You see, we were banked in by fog all day long as well.
June 3: We had rain on and off all day today along the lake. Temperatures were in the 40's and 50's. Lake Superior was a uniform blue gray with a smooth waveless surface.
June 2: The Juneberries (or Service berries) are blossoming. It looks like the Canada Cherry (or Pin Cherry) are not far behind. I even saw daffadils in someone's yard. When we lived in Oregon daffadils came out in mid February in Eugene. Today was cold with highs in the 40's. Lake Superior turned from a bold blue to gray as overcast skies took over from the sun in the afternoon.
June 1: I know it should be summer, and certainly it is green enough for summer but you wouldn't know it by the temperatures. We had 30 degrees and frost down here on the shore in June this morning. The clear skies let things warm up quickly into the low 50's. Lake Superior was a deep blue with 1ft waves from the SE.
May 2015
May 31: It was a cold morning with temperatures in the mid 30's. There was a lot of frost in the area but none here along the lake. It never made it to 50 today in spite that it was a mostly sunny day with small wispy clouds. Lake Superior is a grayish blue with green shadows and 1ft waves from the SE.
May 30: Croftville was clear and cold today. Temperatures were in the 40's even with the partly sunny skies. Lake Superior was a dazzling blue.
May 29: It was a beautiful spring day with lightly overcast skies and an occasional mist coming down. Temperatures were in the 50's until the wind changed and the air came down from the hill warming things up quickly into the low 70's.
May 28: Lake Superior had 2-3ft waves from the SSW. The lake was a metallic blue with shimmery lavender highlights and navy shadows.
May 27: It was a cool day here today until the wind changed from off the lake to off the hill. Immediately, we went from the low 50's into the 70's. Lake Superior was a crisp blue and we had clear blue skies.
May 26: It is a beautifule spring day in Croftville. Lake Superior has 2ft waves from the SE. The lake is a sky blue with light gray highlights and a slightly purple shadow. Temperatures stayed in the 50's even though we had plenty of sun with the clear blue skies.
May 25: Rain began falling around midnight in Croftville. It was a steady drizzle with periods of light rain that lasted all day and is still raining at 9:00pm. It is fairly warm with temperatures in the 50's from the time I got up to now. Lake Superior is calm. Its surface is a ubiquitous gray that melds into a gray sky almost without any discernable transition.
May 24: So far today we have had clear blue skies and a light blue textured lake with navy shadows and no discernable waves. We have a light breeze and temperatures in the high 50's.
May 23: Lake Superior is calm today with a textured surface on a light blue lake with navy shadows. We had partly cloudy skies with small scattered rains but none of them fell here. Temperatures made it into the low 60's.
May 22: Croftville has clear piercing blue skies over a light blue lake with navy shadows on its rippled surface. Waves are only 1ft from the ESE. With any luck we will hit 60 this afternoon.
May 21: It was a clear blue sky day with silver blue 1ft waves and olive green shadows from the south. It was warmer today and made it into the low 60's. The grass is growing lush and tomorrow I may need to mow for the first time.
May 20: There were sunny brilliant blue skies today in Croftville. Lake Superior reflected the sky with a deep blue lake and silver highlights on the 1ft waves from the south. Temperatures climbed from the 30's to a high in the 50's.
May 19: Croftville stayed in the 40's all day. We had strong winds from the west and 1-2ft gray waves from the SSW.
May 18: It rained all night and is heavily overcast but very windy this morning. Temperatures are likely to stay in the 40's today. The lake has 2ft smooth gray waves from the SSE today. It nice to be back in Croftville and we can see changes in the greening of the forest in just the 2 days we were gone.
May 17: Lilacs really showcase the differences between Grand Marais and southern Minnesota. The lilacs were just a little past full bloom down there on May 17 and our lilac bush near the lake generally is in full bloom on July 4th. That is a 6-7 week difference! We drove back to Grand Marais this afternoon and evening escorting rain storms all the way. One rainstorm before getting to Duluth dropped the temperatures 10 degrees in 10 minutes from 65 to 55. By the time we got back to the North Shore temps were hovering between 45-50.
May 16: We traveled to southern Minnesota yesterday afternoon for 2 college graduations. It was so fascinating to watch as spring progressed as we drove to the south. In Grand Marais the aspens are just starting to leaf out and the grass is just turning green. The birch are still just in the budding stage. But as we moved south more varieties of trees were leafed out and the grass became green and lush. It is summer in the Twin Cities and at 75 and humid it felt uncomfortably hot for those of us who reside in Grand Marais.
May 15: We had a light steady rain all last night in Croftville. This morning it is overcast and foggy with limited visibility out on the lake. The lake has 1-2ft silver waves with green shadows from the ESE although we cannot see what is happening beyond a quarter mile. Without any sun, I suspect we will be hard pressed to get much past 50 today.
May 14: We have lightly overcast skies with the sun struggling to make its way out. Our low temperature this morning was 51 which is pretty warm but at 11:00am it is still 51. Lake Superior is gray with 1ft waves from the SE. The sun is strong enough to create silver white relfections on the crests and dark gray shadows on the troughs of the waves.
May 13: Croftville started at 38 and rose slowly to a high of 50 in the evening. Skies were partly cloudy most of the day but become overcast later looking like it was going to rain. The rain never came although Duluth and Two Harbors got hammered with storms. Lake Superior was a light blue gray with 1ft waves from the south.
May 12: It was a cool day along the Lake Superior shore never getting out of the 40's. Lake Superior had 2ft gray waves from the south.
May 11: It rained steady all night long and all morning today. We have a noticable band of brown water along the shore from the runoff and high waves last night. Today we have 3-4ft waves from the SE. Temperautures began in the mid 30's this morning with a high of 44 this afternoon.
May 10: The waves began picking up overnight and by this afternoon were roaring at 4-5ft from the SE. It has been many weeks since we have had such a turbulent lake with violent breaking waves onto the shore and big whitecaps everywhere on the lake. It is a cold day with temperatures staying in the 40's.
May 9: We have cloudy skies today and it is noticeably colder than yesterday. We are bouncing around in the 40's. Lake Superior is a purplish blue with 2ft waves from the ESE today. It looks like it is clear across the lake with a blue white horizon.
May 8: We had a lightly overcast day with a high crepping into the upper 50's. Lake Superior was a dark blue gray with 1-2ft waves from the SSW. Buds on the apsens are becoming quite noticable.
May 7: The rain found its way to Croftville today just after noon. It is a gentle rain with temps in the low 50's and the rain is falling straight down without any wind. Lake Superior is a bluish gray with olive shadows and has 1ft waves from the SE.
May 6: Temperautres refused to climb past 50 along the lake even though away from the lake it was in the upper 60's. We traveled to Duluth and found lots of sun until we left our Cook County. Beyond Cook County there were bouts of rain followed by bouts of sun.
May 5: Croftville had clear blue skies, a high of 60, and a gentle breeze off a still lake today. Lake Superior was so calm you could see all the rocks on the lake floor. Out towards Five Mile Rock there was some unusual bands in the lake. The bands were not parallel with the shore the way we usually see bands but moved out transverse from the shore. Five Mile Rock was a dividing line between a dark blue band and a almost pure white band which seemed to widen as it got further from the shore. Closer to us was then a textured dark blue band again.
May 4: There were sunny skies and temperatures rising into the low 50's along the lake today. An afternoon wind off the lake made it feel much colder. The lake was a deep blue with 1ft waves from the SE.
May 3: It was an absolutely gorgeous spring day today. Temperatures were in the low 60's with mostly clear blue skies with an occasional puffy cloud passing by. The Lake is mostly calm and sky blue just a shade darker than the sky itself.
May 2: Gitche Gumi is mostly calm and light blue today. We had lightly overcast skies and temperatures that rose into the upper 50's.
May 1: I can't believe it is May already. However, this May unlike last year feels like spring. With the goosberries leafed out and the aspen and birch budding, spring is really here. Lake Superior is glass once again. The skies are lightly ovecast leaving the lake surface a light silver. With the cloud cover I don't think we will see 50 today even though we began the day at 42.
April 2015
Apr 30: The lake is glass for the first time in months. It is a pale silvery blue with the only ripples from ducks and loons swimming past. The morning started with a frost but the clear skies allowed the sun to warm us along the lake into the low 50's.
Apr 29: It is again a repeat of yesterday. Highs in the 50's, clear blue skies, and a light breeze off the lake. Gitche Gumi is a sky blue with navy shadows on the 1ft waves from the SE.
Apr 28: It was another beautiful spring day with high temps in the 50's, clear blue skies, and a calm blue Lake Superior.
Apr 27: Lake Superior was mostly calm and blue today. We had plenty of sun and temperatures again rose into the 50's. I noticed the first signs of budding on the aspens up near the highway.
Apr 26: It was a normal spring day in Croftville, with a high in the 50's after so many cooler than normal days this past week. Lake Superior was pretty calm with 1ft waves from the SE in the late afternoon. It felt warm in the sun and we had plenty of it which made the big lake a deep blue. There was a mirage on the horizon at sunset that clearly looked like land across the lake.
Apr 25: It is still cool with temperatures only in the 40's but the sun maks it good to be outside taking in the spring. The gooseberries are leafing out which are the first of bushes or trees to do so every year. The pussy willow fuzz is being replaced by the green buds.
Apr 24: Lake Superior was lightly overcast with a light gray color in the morning and a steel gray color in the afternoon. We had 1-2ft waves from the SE. Temperatures barely climbed into the 40's with brisk winds off the lake.
Apr 23: We had sun all day and woke up to a temperauture right at freezing. It didn't get a whole lot warmer and finally mangaged to make it to 40 before coming back down later in the afternoon. It was amazing that with all that sun that high in the sky that all we could manage was 40 degrees. Lake Superior was a mostly calm, uniformly colored pale blue this morning. However, by afternoon the winds off the lake and the waves on the lake picked up. Superior took on a deep bight metallic blue with silver highlights.
Apr 22: It was yet another cold day here along Lake Superior in Croftville. Never did get out of the mid 30's and woke up in the 20's. We had partly sunny skies but that didn't make any difference. Lake Superior was mostly calm in the morning but waves picked up along with the winds off the lake in the afternoon.
Apr 21: It is another cold day with temperatures hovering in the upper 30's. We have snow flurries coming down occasionally with a blue gray overcast sky. Lake Superior is a darker shade of the same blue gray and mostly calm.
Apr 20: The rain is sticking around again today and occasionally is coming down as snow. Temperatures are in the 30's. Lake Superior is a bluish gray and relatively calm. Strong winds off the hill are buffeting the surface of the lake.
Apr 19: The rain got here in the early morning hours and has continued all morning and into the afternoon. It is a steady cold rain with temperautres hovering in the upper 30's. Lake Superior has whitecaps from the SE. There are 2 bands on the lake. The brownish band occupies the first 100 feet from shore. The other band goes out to the horizon and is an aqua blue with forest green shadows.
Apr 18: Temperatures plummeted quickly into the 30's when the sun went down last night but rose quickly this morning with the clear sunny skies. We have 1-2ft sky blue waves from the ESE with silver highlights on Superior this morning. They are predicting rain this eveneing but so far it looks like another georgeous spring day.
Apr 17: Lake Superior was a dazzling blue with silver highlights with 1-2ft waves from the ESE. We had clear blue skies and temperatures in the mid 60's here along the shore.
Apr 16: It was a little cooler along the lake today with high's in the upper 40's. There as still partly sunny skies and blue 1-2ft waves from the SE.
Apr 15: Lake Superior has 2ft waves from the ESE. They are a deep sky blue with dark olive shadows against a clear blue horizon. Temperatures rose into the upper 50's on another beautiful windy day in Croftville.
Apr 14: Clear pale blue skies sat above the sky blue Lake Superior with navy shadows. Lake Superior had 1ft waves from the south and a strong winds from the SE. Temperatures made it into the low 60's for the first time this spring here along the lake.
Apr 13: It rained steady all night long and stopped just after sunrise. It was a warm day in the upper 50's. Dark clouds passed by during the afternoon over the lake. The dark clouds turned the blue lake to a dark metallic gray. The strong winds generated plenty of whitecaps. Once the dark clouds passed Superior returned to its pleasant blue, the whitecaps abated, and we had rolling 2ft waves from the SSW.
Apr 12: Lake Superior was a brilliant blue with 1-2ft waves from the SE. Clouds moved in late in the afternoon and rain began shortly after sunset. High temperatures were in the low 50's.
Apr 11: Another beautiful day along Lake Superior. Temperatures again hit 50 along the lake. There were clear blue skies and 2ft aqua blue waves from the south.
Apr 10: It was a beautiful partly cloudy day in Croftville. Temperatures hit 50 today along the lake. Lake Superior was a pale blue with a textured surface on a mostly calm lake.
Apr 9: We woke up in the low 40's and we stayed in the low 40's all day long. Skies were generally overcast which resulted in a gray lake with dark green shadows. Light to moderate rain fell intermittently through the day.
Apr 8: Temperatures stayed just on either side of 40 today. We have overcast skies and large fluffy snowflake conglomerates accumulated about 2" of wet snow this morning. Lake Superior is a greenish gray with 2-3ft waves from the ESE. The shadows on the waves are a deep olive green.
Apr 7: We have highs in the low 40's, brisk winds, and 2ft waves from the ESE. Lake Superior is a greenish blue with lightly overcast pale skies.
Apr 6: It may be spring but today it is a cold spring day. The low was in the teens and the high was in the upper 30's. The brisk wind off Lake Superior really chills you bones.
Apr 5: Happy Easter! Christ is risen, alleluia! It is a brisk day with wind, lots of sun, and temperatures never making it out of the 30's. Superior is a bright blue.
Apr 4: Croftville Road has partly cloudy skies over the lake today. We had a high temperature in the low 40's. Lake Superior has small light blue gray 1ft waves from the south.
Apr 3: It was an unseasonably cold day today. Temperatures began in the 20's and never got out of the 30's which is a striking contrast to yesterday. Lake Superior was loud with 3ft waves from the south.
Apr 2: It was a gorgeous warm day along Lake Superior was partly sunnny skies and big puffy cumulus clouds passing by. The lake is roaring with 3-4ft waves hitting the shore. Further out there are many more witecaps than normal. I suspect the strong winds off the lake is helping to generate them. Temps started in the low 40's this morning and climbed into the upper 50's this afternoon.
Apr 1: Hello April. Woke up to 41 degrees. By 11am it had dropped to 35. We didn't see 40 degrees again until about 8pm. In the meantime, reports are that it was in the 80's in southern Minnesota. I guess Minnesota is a bigger state than I thought. We heard our first thunder over the lake this afternoon. I thought it was heavy equipment on the highway at first. Lake Superior had 2 bands on it. The first was a brownish band close to shore. The second bigger band was a bluish purple all the way out to the horizon.
March 2015
Mar 31: Snow and light rain was the order of the day. The sun peaked out for a grand total of 5 minutes today from the overcast skies. We had an accumulation of 2" during the morning before the rain and warmer temperatures wiped it out this afternoon. It was quite cold today managing only a 39 degree high. Lake Superior was a blusih green with 1-2ft waves from the SE.
Mar 30: It was a beautiful day here on the Croftville Road today. With a high temperature near 50 and plenty of sun, it was a good day to be outside. Lake Superior had 2ft waves from the south.
Mar 29: Woke up to 35 degrees this morning, an overcast sky, and 3-4ft waves from the south crashing on the shore from the south. Then at 7am the snow began coming down quite heavy in spite of our warm temperatures. Within an hour we have an inch of accumulation. However, temperatures are supposed to continue rising and I suspect it will turn to rain.
Mar 28: It warmed up more today. We had clear blue skies and the sun took us from 17 degrees this morning to 41 this afternoon. The 2ft waves from the south piled up the ice fragments onto the shore creating a drift of ice on the shoreline.
Mar 27: It was even colder this morning with 7 degrees down here by Lake Superior. We finally managed 30 late this afternoon while we spent most of the day in the teens and 20's. There was not a cloud in the sky but even the sun as high as it is in the sky now could only manage to muster 30 degrees. This was one cold mass of air. Lake Superior took on different shades of blue throughout the day. There was a band of broken up ice that managed to push its way to shore late this afternoon. The various sizes of ice chunks created what looked like a broken tile mosaic with the tiny pieces of ice creating raised grout lines between the pieces of the mosaic.
Mar 26: Yikes, cold temperatures from the winter are back. We were in the low teens this morning and never got quite up to freezing today. The winds were strong in the morning but calmed down in the afternoon. Lake Superior was an amazing blue with the sun out and was mostly calm.
Mar 25: Southern Minnesota got the snow yesterday and we are getting the snow today. It started at 7am and has gotten heavier as the day goes on. We have about 1 inch of accumulation on the ground at 1pm. It is snowing in spite of the fact that it is 44 degrees outside. I don't think the snow will stick for long. Lake Superior is a light bluish gray that dissolves into a light gray sky. We have 2ft waves from the SSE.
Mar 24: It is a beautiful sunny and windy day on Lake Superior. We hav a deep blue lake with dark green shadows and 1-2ft waves from the SE. The wind is coming in strong directly off the lake. Temps climbed into the mid 40's.
Mar 23: We have no sun today along Lake Superior. The lake is a bluish gray with dark green shadows. We have 2ft waves from the SE. Highs managed to get into the upper 30's today after beginning the day at 20.
Mar 22: Although it is still cold, we are actually warmer than Southern Minnesota today. We have clear blue skies and a high just above freezing. Our daughter was collecting ice shells off of the rocks on the beach. These are thin layers of ice that formed on the rocks from the spray. She peels them off the ice and brings them up as crystal treasures. Lake Superior had 1ft waves from the SE.
Mar 21: What a unusual day on Lake Superior. After a couple weeks of consisently above average temperatures today we were well below average with a high of only 30 degrees and a low this morning in the single digits. We had plenty of sun, a very blue lake, and very little waves but a textured lake surface.
Mar 20: Croftville Road has partly cloudy skies and the temperature got close to 50 this afternoon. Lake Superior has small smooth 1-2ft waves from the south. The lake is surprisingly gray which is uncommon when we have some sun.
Mar 19: It is appropriate that for the last official day of winter we had snow. Just a light snow without any accumulation. Temperatures are in the upper 30's and low 40's so it is surprising that it could snow at all. This morning Lake Superior was glass. Not even a ripple. You could see every rock beneath the water.
Mar 18: It was a cooler day with a high in the upper 30's today. We had plenty of sun and very little wind in the morning so ti felt warmer. By afternoon that wind picked up and made things less comfortable along the lake.
Mar 17: Happy Saint Patrick's Day. It is not green here along the North Shore but the snow is still melting. Temps dropped into the 20's last night and made it to the low 40's today. We have a very strong wind out of the west. Lake Superior has a textured purplish blue surface with dark olive shadows. Whitecaps can be seen further out but the wind seems to be suppressing the waves along the shore. There are blue skies with wispy clouds.
Mar 16: The forecast was rain all day. The radar showed rain coming all day. But it never came! We had overcast skies with a high temperautre in the low 40's. Lake Superior had small gray waves from the SE.
Mar 15: Beware of the Ides of March. Lake Superior is blue with a textured surface and 1ft waves from the SE. This morning we saw a sheet of ice heading towards Croftville but it never made it to shore. By afternoon it had moved on to somewhere else.
Mar 14: Happy Pi Day from my daughter and son. It is like a switch has closed shutting off winter and turning on spring. Temperatures stayed in the upper 40's all day here along Lake Superior. We had partly cloudy skies and a fairly calm blue lake with 1ft from the ESE.
Mar 13: It was a beautiful day next to the shore in Croftville. Mostly clear skies, temperatures in the 40's, and plenty of sun. With the sun, warm temperatures, and large waves our ice formations along the shore formed from the spray off the lake are quickly eroding. Once any bare rock can be seen it quickly speeds up the melting. Even our daughter's ice fort has succumb to the waves. It is quite amazing how quickly winter is losing its grip in Croftville.
Mar 12: It was a little cooler today but still in the low 40's. We had overcast skies all day and a strong wind out of the east. This generated many whitecaps out on steel gray Lake Superior.
Mar 11: Temps dropped below freezing last night but quickly rebounded into the 40's with the clear skies. Lake Superior is calm with a textured surface. It is a purplish blue with with highlights against the pale blue horizon with a white streak right at the horizon.
Mar 10: The morning had lightly overcast skies, a little bit of light rain, and a purple horizon across the lake. However, the afternoon changed to clear sunny skies and with that the temperatures ballooned to the low 50's. What a gorgeous afternoon with everybody out walking on the Croftville Road. Lake Superior was bright blue with blinding white reflections in the direction of the sun.
Mar 9: It is the warmest day since November with a high in the upper 40's in Croftville. With clear blue skies, a deep blue lake with green shadows, 2ft waves from the SE, and only a light breeze, this is a truly beautiful day.
Mar 8: It was warm in the upper 20's and 30's today. We had partly cloudy skies and it had the taste of spring in the breeze. Lake Superior was mostly calm and a steel blue against a pale blue horizon. It was a great day to be out enjoying the snow.
Mar 7: It was a warm day and it felt so good not to be bundled up in multiple layers of clothing. Temperatures were in the 20's and 30's. We had partly sunny skies. Lake Superior was surprisingly calm and light blue. There is no ice to be seen in the water here in Croftville. We drove down to Duluth today and it was so different to see the ice on the lake there and hundreds of people out on the lake most of which were ice fishing.
Mar 6: The cold is gone for awhile, I hope for good. It is 16 degrees in Croftville and we are on our way to the upper 20's today. The lake is silver this morning with small roller waves from the south. Skies are partly cloudy. Last night the large moon reflected off the lake and snow so it seemed like twilighjt all night. Only the angles of the shadows changed as the full moon moved from east to west.
Mar 5: The cold lingered another day with 8 below here in Croftville this morning. Temperatures did steadily rise throughout the day making 22 by late afternoon. However, with the rising temps also came rising winds off that cold lake. Lake Superior was a greenish gray with 3-4ft waves in the afternoon from the SE. You could see lots of whitecaps away from the shore.
Mar 4: Ouch, 6 below this morning beside an unfrozen Lake Superior. Our high was only 8 degrees today. The prognosticators are telling us warmer temps are on the way beginning tomorrow afternoon. Right now it is back down to 4 below at 6pm. I hope they are right, this below zero stuff is becoming old, especially in March. Lake Superior was a dark blue today with steam rising off its surface all day long.
Mar 3: We woke up to heavy snow and wind. We picked up a good 4" by the time it quit this afternoon. The sky was white, the lake was a greenish gray with 2-3ft waves from the SSE. The horizon was not visible. Temperatures were in the 20's to freezing.
Mar 2: By this morning we had an open water silver blue Lake Superior as far as we can see. Only a smattering of small ice pieces can be seen out on the lake. Temps dropped last night into the low single digits but the sun is warming things up quickly and we should be in the upper 20's today with the clear blue skies.
Mar 1: Yesterday, my daughter and I were playing out on the foot thick ice. This is a rare event since lake ice is so unpredictable. I actually thought to myself it will probably be weeks before the waves of Lake Superior will be able to eat away at the ice shelf along the shore. Looking out at the horizon I saw ice as far as I could see. This morning I woke up and all the ice was broken up all the way to the shore. We watched as these large chunks of ice boke up into smaller chunks and gradually be pulled out away from shore. Temperautres hit 30 yesterday afternoon. We didn't see a 30 degree temperature for the whole month of February. I like March.
February 2015
Feb 28: Partly cloudy blue skies and high winds are the conditions here along Lake Superior today. Temperatures climbed into the 20's. Lake Superior was frozen blue ice as far as I could see with many pressure ridges. A neighbor tells us that the ice near the shore is now nearly a foot thick. That is quite remarkable.
Feb 27: Clear blue skies, blue ice, and temperatures rising into the 20's after a 4 below start this morning. It was a gorgeous day in Croftville. The winds this afternoon were at times severe, the ice shelf broke off about a mile out leaving deep blue open water as it drifted away.
Feb 26: Clear blue skies, a red sunrise over the lake, and 10 below greets us this morning. I am sure the sun will do its magic to make a beautiful day along our ice frozen lake.
Feb 25: And our cold returns with a low this morning of 14 below. The normal high for this date in Grand Marais is 28 degrees. I don't think we have even had a thaw ib February here. The ice shelf near the shore seems to be pretty stable although you can watch the ice sheets move in and out further out. Temperatures finally managed to find 10 degrees in the afternoon sun before beginning their descent back below zero.
Feb 24: What a difference a day makes. Got up to 22 degrees this morning and 2-3" of fresh snow. However, by the time I had finished shoveling snow the temperature was already going down. By this evening the temps had steadily gone down to 3 degrees. Lake Superior had several breaks in the ice as the ice shelves pulled away and the waves began breaking the shelves into shards and swallowing them up.
Feb 23: It was 18 below this morning once again with an afternoon high of 10 above. Skies are overcast and pure white. It it almost like a frozen breath everywhere. Lake Superior is white as far as you can see. The only way to distinguish the horizon is there is an ever so tiny tint of blue on the lake ice.
Feb 22: It was 18 below once again overnight and never even got close to zero for the high today. The sun and blue skies were out. Lake Superior is a frozen tundra near the shore. The patterns from the pressure ridges of broken ice shards are fun to stare at. Farther out you can see the blue line indicating open water and the steam rising off of it.
Feb 21: Lake Superior is a large white mass except right near the horizon were there is a dark blue band which I presume to be open water. Temperatures are in the teens with partly cloudy skies.
Feb 20: We got rid of the severe cold but with the moderate temperatures came snow. We got about 4-5" of fluffy fresh snow today. It was beautiful to watch come down and light enough that my back didn't hurt too bad after the shoveling. Temperatures were in the teens most of the day.
Feb 19: Wow, 18 below this morning in Croftville. This is colder than we would see along the lake if the lake wasn't frozen. We have clear blue skies except for a few clouds directly over Lake Superior. Lake Superior is a white ice sheet as far as we can see with a scattering of pressure ridges and stacked ice in places.
Feb 18: The cold continues with 16 below this morning along the lake. I can see a channel of open water about 100 yards from the shore. I can tell its open because of the water vapor rising off the surface. We had a large red orange sunrise as the sun showed itself in the small sliver between the horizon and the cloud cover over the lake. Everywhere else we have clear blue skies.
Feb 17: It was 14 below this morning in Croftville. Managed a brief high of 10 degrees before plummeting back down this evening. Lake Superior looks like the arctic with a field of stacked broken ice along the shore. Vey little open water was seen today.
Feb 16: The ice sheets have formed a barrier of stacked broken ice shards for the first 50ft from shore. After that, the sheet moves in and out from the shore creating an opening and closing channel parallel with the shoreline. Temperatures today mad it into the low 20's but the high humidity made it feel much colder.
Feb 15: Ouch, 14 below this morning. Being halfway through February, I hope we will not see much more of the bitterly cold air masses. As the sun rose above the cloud cover on the horizon, temperatures moved upward into the double digits this afternoon. Lake Superior is a uniform frozen white except along the shore. There we can see and hear the ice shelf breaking into to shards as it piles onto the shore or creating chammels of open water as it pulls away from the shore.
Feb 14: It was a cold day today with a high of 1 below down here next to Lake Superior. Lake Superior was ice as far as we could see with a few channels of open water. The stars are so bright tonight and are distinctly twinkling is the clear cold air.
Feb 13: We had a dusting of snow last night (less than an inch) which raised temperatures up to about 10 degrees by morning and about 20 in the afternoon. Skies are white and overcast. The lake is pock marked with regions of ice and water both of which are varying shades of gray.
Feb 12: There was ice as far as we could see today. In the afternoon the ice had breaks in it as we watched the flows and sheets drift to the east. Broken shards of ice began piling up on the shores. Temperautres we very cold with a high of only 4 and most of the day below zero.
Feb 11: We have broken ice with snow on top of it drifting for about a quarter mile from shore. After that Lake Superior is a metallic blue and surprisingly calm considering the strong swirling winds. Another 3-4" of snow fell during the night. We woke to 22 degrees and have watched the temperatures drop slowly ever since.
Feb 10: The ice sheets crinkled yesterday and by this morning were either broken up or moved out away from shore. By afternoon the sheets had moved back in to shore. Temperatures were in the 20's overnight and stayed in the 20's all day. Snow began falling around noon accumulating about 4" by nightfall. The location of the ice became quite visible with the fresh snow.
Feb 9: We have overcast skies today with a low last night of zero and a high this afternoon of 28. Lake Superior is a pale blue gray with an ice sheet extending out for at least 1 mile. It may have been cold enough last night for the lake to freeze but I suspect the ice sheet just drifted in overnight.
Feb 8: I saw my first definate band of broken frozen ice this morning. It was a thin band of about 10ft sitting 50ft off the shore. Coming down the Gunflint trail this afternoon we could see from our bird's eye view that there are indeed sheet of ices forming out on Lake Superior. The lake was a deep bluish green against the pale blue horizon and the white sheets of ice.
Feb 7: We woke up to 3 inches of light fluffy snow this morning. While I was shoveling out a new wave of snow began and continues throughout the day. With the snowfall we cannot see the horizon on the lake. Gitche Gumi is a silver blue with dark green shadows. The waves are now 2-3ft with small whitecaps from the ESE. Temperatures look like they will be hovering in the teens today along the shore.
Feb 6: The big waves dissipated overnight. Today we have 2-3ft rollers from the south. Temperatures are in the teens. With overcast skies the lake is a colorless gray. They are predicting snow for tonight.
Feb 5: It warmed up overnight and was 1 above this morning. The winds were still at 8am but by 10am they were roaring off the lake this time and roared all day long. The waves are 6-7feet from the south and are as large as I have seen them this winter. Judging by the whitecaps I could see further out I think out there they were even larger. Lake Superior had a greenish blue hue to it today which is often the case with whitecaps. Temps rose into the low 20's.
Feb 4: The cold continued this morning. It was 1 above when I awoke but by 10am it had dropped to 3 below before climbing above zero by noon. We ended up with a high of 5 this afternoon. Once again this morning I could see signs of ice shards in the water by the texture of the surface. This does mean that Lake Superior has cooled down enough to begin forming ice and I now expect to see the beginning of ice sheets when the lake is calm and the temperature is low soon. We had gale force winds coming from the northwest this morning. When the gusts hit the lake the surface would shiver. Although the surface is highly textured, the waves were being supressed near the shore from the haevy wind. Sunrise changed the lake from black and white to sky blue and navy as the sun peaked above the cloud cover that has amassed ove the lake from the subzero temps this week.
Feb 3: The cold continues with 2 below this morning and an afternoon high of 14 before sinking back by evening. The skies were mostly overcast leaving Lake Superior calm with a gray pallor most of the afternoon. Even with cloud cover, it was amazingly bright outside last night with the nearly full moon breaking though the clouds and reflecting off the lake and the brillianty white snow.
Feb 2: It was 6 below this morning. I think I may be seeing the first signs of ice on the lake. Superior had patches of rough surfaces that is consistent with small ice chards floating in it. We may still be a long way from seeing any ice sheets, but it may be an indication that at least the surface of the lake has cooled down enough in subzero temperatures to begin forming ice. Typically, it is late February before we begin to see ice sheets forming in our exposed shoreline. Once again the lake is relatively calm and we can watch the gusts of wind hit the surface and move out.
Feb 1: It is hard to believe that February is already here. We got a reminder last night that we have not heard the last of old man winter in the boreal forest. Temperatures plummeted last night down to 8 below. This morning we had the familiar cloud cover over the lake during the cold spells. Lake Superior is mostly calm with a textured silver and black surface that is reflecting the muted sunlight in every direction.
January 2015
Jan 31: We have clear blue skies except way out over the lake where we can see a thin periwinkle cloud cover. Lake Superior itself is a textured deep blue except where the gusts of wind hit the surface and turn the color to navy. The little bit of wave action is too small to determine their direction. Temperatures stayed in the teens and 20's last night and have remained there today. It was a beautiful day outdoors once the 3" of fresh fluffy snow was shoveled.
Jan 30: I didn't see those cold temperatures coming last night. We woke up to 6 below down here next to the lake. Temperautres refused to rise much until noon and then quickly rose to around 20. However, the gentle wind and the high humidity in the air still made it feel awfully cold. Lakw Superior moved from blue to gray as overcast skies moved in and snow began to fall at dusk.
Jan 29: Strong winds off the hill and onto the lake made outdoor conditions quite uncomfortable today. The winds buffeted Lake Superior's surface subduing the waves near the shore even though large waves could be seen further out. Lake Superior was a silver blue and you could watch the gusts of wind make its surface shiver as they traveld out on the lake. Air temps were in the teens and 20's but it felt much colder than that.
Jan 28: We started the day in the 30's and stayed there all day. The skies are overcast leaving Lake Superior with a greenish gray surface with light blue highlights. Waves are 1-2ft from the south.
Jan 27: We had one of the reddest sunrises I have ever seen this morning over Lake Superior. There was just a sliver of sky visible between the horizon and the low hanging clouds. As the sun passed through that gap it was a brilliant red. Temperautres stayed in the 20's and low 30's yesterday. Lake Superior had 1-2ft waves from the south.
Jan 26: It started snowing lightly last night, by this morning we had 2" and by this evening we had a total of 4" of fresh snow on the ground. With the snow came a numbing wind off the lake that made it very cold even though temperatures hovered in the 20's and 30's. The wind also reinforced the waves until we had 6ft blackish blue waves buffeting the shore from the ESE.
Jan 25: We had a little sun, a little clouds, a blue fairly calm lake, a low overnight of 6, and a high of 19 today in Croftville.
Jan 24: We woke with clear skies, colder temperatures in the teens, and a bright blue Lake Superior with 2ft waves from the SSW. We had snow flurries in the afternoon before clear skies took over for the night and temperatures dropped down quickly into the single digits.
Jan 23: The afternoon was georgous here in Croftville. Temperatures hit 40 and Lake Superior was lightly overcast and a pale blue.
Jan 22: It was unseasonably warm with temperature rising to 40 degres, Lake Superior was a bright blue with waves from the SSE. There was plenty of sun to melt away the 1/4" of ice covering everything this morning.
Jan 21: We heard to day that the last ship on Superior made it into port in Duluth today officially ending the shipping season. The Sault Locks should open up in late March. Temperatures hovered in the 20's and 30's today. Lake Superior was mostly calm and a medium blue in color. Skies were partly sunny with intemittent overcast conditions.
Jan 20: We woke up to clear blue skies overhead which will stay with us all day. Over Lake Superior is a different story with a dark gray mass of clouds on the horizon. The sun peaked above these clouds by 9am. Lake Superior is a silver blue with 1ft waves from the ESE. At the right angle the reflections of the sun off the lake are blinding.
Jan 19: Lake effect snow dropped about 4" of fluffy big flake snow in Croftville today. Temperatures started near zero but warmed into the 20's. Lake Superior had small waves and winds from the SE.
Jan 18: Temperatures hovered once again around freezing today. We had intermittent snow several times today accumulating less than a couple inches. The skies were overcast, the lake was gray, and there was almost no discernable waves.
Jan 17: Temperatures rose during the night and hovered around freezing all day. A slippery snow fell on and off accumulating a little more than an inch for the day. Lake Superior was a light purplish blue with 2ft waves coming straight in from the SSE.
Jan 16: It felt like winter again today. Temperatures were back down to below zero this morning and struggled to get in the single digits this afternoon. Winds were intense. Lake Superior was overcast and a light gray with light snow coming down much of the afternoon.
Jan 15: It is warm today hovering around freezing along Lake Superior. However, it is also very windy from mostly the east. We have mostly clear skies with lots of sun. Lake Superior is a purplish blue with large 4ft rollers coming from the south.
Jan 14: Croftville had overcast skies all day. The temperatures were comfortable in the 20's and there was no wind. We had a dusting of snow overnight. With the overcast skies the lake was a uniform dark bluish gray but with 3ft waves that broke near the shore and breaking the uniform gray surface of Lake Superior.
Jan 13: The moon reflected silver off the black lake early this morning. There were 3-4ft waves from the south. Once the sun rose we could see a large black cloud front to the south. Although it is supposed to warm up today you could not tell with the single digit temperatures and high winds in Croftville.
Jan 12: There were 2 ore freighters going by this morning and 2 going by last night. The date must be getting close for the closing of the locks with all the action we have been seeing. The Sault Locks usually close around mid January and then open in mid March. I haven't heard the closing date, yet. It was bitter cold last night waking up to 12 below this morning and not getting to zero until 1pm. We have clear blue skies except for directly over the middle of the lake. The surface is a deep sky blue against a pale blue horizon. The lake is calm but with a textured surface.
Jan 11: Looking out at the lake while laying in bed was so stunning last night. The moon was backlighting the cloud that has amassed over the lake from the below zero temps. Lake Superior itself was black with white highlights of reflected light off the textured lake surface where the moonlight was able to sneak through. This morning the sun has replaced the moon in backlighting the puffy cloud. Lake Superior is silver and you can watch the gusts of wind hitting the surface from the hill and then moving out.
Jan 10: We watched 3 ore freighters go by last night. All were within a half mile of shore but one of them was less than a quarter mile. Our neighbors told us the this freighter actually passed between the shore and 5 mile rock and that is the reason it was so close as it passed by us here in Croftville. We could see all the details of the ship just from the minimal running lights. Today it has warmed up into the teens with partly cloudy skies over the lake. Lake Superior is a dark steel blue with green shadows and 3ft rollers from the SSE.
Jan 9: We had 8 below this morning in Croftville. Skies overhead are blue but the sky over the lake is overcast. Lake Superior has small 1ft waves from the south and is a pale sky blue. Visibility is limted to about a mile with the steam rising off the lake.
Jan 8: Snow returned today and with it the temperatures moderated with a high in the lower teens here along Superior. Accumulation was only a couple inches but the light snow came down most of the day. Sometimes it came down gently but at other times it whirled in a blizzard-like fashion when the winds were gusting. Visibility on the lake was only a half mile with the snow. As sunset approached the snow ended, the winds picked up, and the temperatures dropped back below zero.
Jan 7: We had yet another day of all below zero temperatures today. However, the real story was the wind. With strong winds Grand Marais was the coldest spot in the lower 48 with wind chills at 50 below zero. One of our intrepid guests said that they love this weather and decided to stay an extra night. I think I might not choose the word "love" but watching the steam rise off a roaring lake into a growing cloud directly over the lake is an impressive sight to behold.
Jan 6: It was bitter cold along Lake Superior yesterday. We had 3ft gray rollers from the SSE coming straight into the shore. The steam continued to rise off of Superior up into the amassing cloud directly over the lake. Everywhere else we had clear skies. Our high was 4 below but the winds swirling in all directions made it much, much colder.
Jan 5: It was good to return to Gitche Gumi this afternoon. I got to watch the moon rising over the lake as I drove to Grand Marais. It is nearly full and came up as a large orange orb. It then rose above the clouds and water vapor over the lake turning into a smaller bright white ball. The high as driving along the lake was 1 above on my car thermometer.
Jan 4: We headed to Northfield in SE Minnesota today to take our son back to college. After the snowfall quit yesterday afternoon, the temperatures began to plummet and the winds picked up. We were down to 10 below this morning on the lake and we never got to zero. Lake Superior was a pale blue with 2-3ft roller waves. Water vapor could be seen rising off the surface forming into a cloud directly over the lake.
Jan 3: The snow resumed in the middle of the night. Temperatures actually rose into the 20's overnight. With now 4 inches of fresh snow it has a familiar look of winter with snow heavy at times still falling. Visibility of the lake is only about 100 yards with 1ft waves from the SSE.
Jan 2: We had teens overnight and teens all day today. The sky was overcast and Lake Superior was gray with green shadows and only 2ft waves today. Snow began falling in the afternoon. It felt like lake effect snow with big fluffy flakes coming in horizontally from the lake. We ended up with 2-3 inches before it stopped. However, they say there is another storm on the way tonight.
Jan 1: We welcome 2015 in Croftville with a dusting of snow. It is the kind of snow that would not even be noticed this time of year. However, with the lack of any noticable snow cover down by the lake, even a small dusting is noticed right away. Temperatures remained near 20 overnight. To the south over the lake we have dark clouds that the sun is trying to rise above. Directly overhead we have clear blue skies. Lake Superior is a shiny silver gray with 4ft waves from the south.