Four Season Cottages and Vacation Suites
On the Shore of Lake Superior
Grand Marais, Minnesota
December 2023
Dec 31: There was a dusting of snow this morning. Our morning low was 17 and our high this afternoon was 36. zer had partly sunny skies. Lake Superior had 2-3ft blue waves from the SE with silver highlights and navy shadows.
Dec 30: Well, the clear skies diappeared overnight. We have a light gray overcast with just a sliver of white sky along the lake horizon. It looks like the UP might still have some sun today. Lake Superior has 2-3ft dark blue waves with olive shadows from the SE. After a hi of 39 yesterday we dropped to 28 this morning. Still no snow in sight.
Dec 29: Lake Superior is a pale blue on a textured surface with navy shadows. After a high of 42 yesterday, we dropped to 30 overnight with temps rising quickly again today in the sun and clear blue skies. We are at 37 at 11am. The air is still and it is a wonderful day to be outdoors.
Dec 28: Who would think that I would be excited at a layer of frost on Dec 28? But I am, it is the first frost I have seen in probably a week. Who knows when we will actually see snow. Skies cleared during the night and I was able to enjoy the full mon and the morning star from my bed. It is a beautiful day with clear blue skies except for a band of clouds over the lake horizon. The sun is blinding reflecting off the bright blue lake. The surface of the lake is waveless with a textured surface. The low this morning was 30 but things have warmed back up to 37 by 11am.
Dec 27: The warm rainy weather continues. We had a low of 38 and a high of 41 today. There were signs of a break in the gray overcast to our south across the lake today. Maybe some sun might make it to Croftville by tomorrow. A series of ore freighters continue to parade by. Last night there was a large freighter all lit up that was at most 2 miles out.
Dec 26: The rain has continues all day today. We have gray skies over both the land and lake. Fog limits our visibility on the big lake to around 1 mile. Our low was 39 and our high was 41. Lake Superior has 2-3ft chocolate waves from the SE due to the runoff. About a quarter mile out the lake turns to blue with green shadows.
Dec 25: We had a high of 45 after only cooling down to 42 overnight. It was dry this Christmas morning with a few lighter regions in the sky. However, the skies darkened in the afternoon to a constant light rain. Lake Superior had 2-3ft bluish gray waves from the SE and we watched several ore freighters pass by Croftville. About 10pm a stronger rain began. There was no white Christmas this year.
Dec 24: Our low in Croftville this morning was 39 near mignight and was up to 42 by daybreak on our way to a high of 44. We had bouts of rain through the day. There was a particularly strong storm that came an hour after sunset and lasted about an hour. Is this really winter in Cook County? Lake Superior had 1-2ft waves coming stright into shore from the SSE. The lake was a pale blue gray.
Dec 23: We had a light rain for much of the day today with a gray fog that never lifted. Our low was 37 and our high was 40. Lake Superior was a pale blue gray with 1ft waves when you could actually see the water through the fog.
Dec 22: Wow, it only got down to 37 degrees this morning and rose to 42 this afternoon, It is hard to believe that this can be the first official day of winter after the winter solstice last night. Still no snow on the ground and it almost seems balmy except for the pervasive fog that has restricted visibility on the land and left Lake Superior a light gray and for most purposes invisible today.
Dec 21: We had an overnight low of 21 and a high of 39 today. It was a good day to be outside working today. However, doing yardwork in Grand Marais on the day of the winter solstice is hard to believe. Lake Superior was gray with hints of blue and 2-3ft waves.
Dec 20: After a high of 33 yesterday we dropped to 21 this morning and temperatures remained stalled in the mid 20's all day. Lake Superior had blue gray waves with white and gray overcast skies overhead. The 3ft waves were from the south. Without the sun it was a cold day working near the lake.
Dec 19: We have powerful winds today mostly from the west. Lake Superior is in beautiful form with 3-5ft waves from the south crashing into the shore. The lake is a brilliant blue with transluscent green shadows near the shore and rogue whitecaps. Skies are blue and mostly clear with some high thin clouds over the lake. With the clear skies we dropped to 13 overnight (our coldest of the season) but the sun has us up to 30 degrees already at noon.
Dec 18: Temps began to drop last night and we woke up to 17 and we stayed in the low 20's all day. Lake Superior was blue with 1-2ft waves from the SE. The skies were mostly sunny today and when the wind subsided it was comfortable to be outside. I saw several freighters on the lake last night and we had a dusting of snow around midnight.
Dec 17: It was another warm day with a low of 32 and a high of 43. There were a few breaks in the clouds and overcast allowing some sunlight to poke through. Lake Superior was a dark blue with metallic looking 3ft waves from the SSE. All remanant of the snow plow ridge on Croftville Road disappeared today leaving the ground brown and bare as we enter into the week before Christmas.
Dec 16: I woke up to 36 degrees and about a half inch of snow on the ground. overnight it got down to 33 degrees and quite honestly I was surprised to see there was any accumulation. All of the snow was gone by noon except the wet slushy ridge created by the snow plow. With a high of 41 I expect most of that ridge will be gone by tonight. Skies are gray overcast. Lake Superior is a grayish blue with 1ft waves from the SSE.
Dec 15: We woke up to rain and 40 degrees this morning. This skies are overcast and gray. Lake Superior is gray with 3ft waves from the south. I saw several ore freighter lights on the lake during the night but they were probably 9-10 miles from the shore. They were predicting snow for the arrowhead today but it is just way too warm along the lake for that to happen, I suspect we will continue to get rain.
Dec 14: Temps rose through the night and we woke up to 33 degrees. Our high for the day was 43. It was warm, there was blue skies and sun, but the strong winds made it cold for being outside and working. Lake Superior had 3-5ft from the south pounding the shore. They were blue with navy shadows ans bright whitecaps reflecting the sun as they broke near shore.
Dec 13: After a high of only 25 yesterday, the clear skies allowed temps to plummet to 14 this morning which may be our coldest temp this season along Lake Superior. Today skies are clear except for a thin band of clouds over the lake horizon. The sun is warming temps up quickly and we are at 25 already at 11am. the lake has 1ft blue waves with navy shadows from the south and blinding white reflections from the sun. The air is still unlike the bitterly cold winds and wind chill from yesterday.
Dec 12: Skies were partly cloudy as I awoke this morning. However, the heavy line of clouds to the east and south prevented the sun from getting above them until 10am. It was good to see our first sunlight in what seems like many days. Lake Superior is a greenish blue with 2-3ft waves from the south. Our high yesterday was 29 and our low this morning was 22.
Dec 11: After all the overcast of the past few days, the skies cleared during the night and we had an amazing display of stars, planets, and constellations. By morning the clear skies had again been replaced by a heavy gray overcast but had allowed temps to drop all the way down to 21. Lake Superior is a grayish blue with 1-2ft waves from the south.
Dec 10: There were very powerful winds last night that knocked off our placards, downed trees in the area, and whistled through our double-hung windows. Today we had a low of 28 and a high of 32. Skies remained heavily overcast. Lake Superior was gray with 2-3ft waves.
Dec 9: It was a repeat of yesterday with heavily overcast skies and warmth. It was 39 this morning. The high was 42 this afternoon. And we are at our low for the day at 7pm with 32 degrees and falling. There were some high winds in the later afternoon that might be a sign for a change in weather. Lake Superior had 2-3ft bluish gray waves with green shadows from the SSE.
Dec 8: It has been a heavily overcast and warm day. After a high of 40 yesterday, we dropped to 35 overnight and back up to 42 today. Lake Superior has 2-3ft bluish gray waves with green shadows buffeting the shore from the SSE. It feels like it could rain at any moment. It is December, isn't it?
Dec 7: We dropped to 29 last night but are at 40 degrees with sun at noon. Lake Superior has a blue gray textured surface with 1ft waves from the SSE. There is a white glow above the lake horizon and the mostly sunny blue skies everywhere else.
Dec 6: Lake Superior was silent and still last night. The lake has picked up today with 2ft grayish blue waves with green shadows coming in straight from the SSE. We stayed above freezing overnight and today are hovering in the mid 30's. Skies are a combination of clouds and overcast with that winter gray look with no sun.
Dec 5: It was another overcast mild day here in Croftville. We had a gray Lake Superior and temperatures beginning at 32 and rising to 38 today. Hard to beileve that this incredibly mild weather continues.
Dec 4: Heading to Duluth today to pick up our John Deere tractor and snowblower. We will be all ready if we ever get any significant snow this winter. Lake Superior was a bluish gray with cloudy and overcast skies. Temps began at 34 and peaked at 39. On the way down there were isolated stretches of wet pavement, icy pavement, snow on the pavement, and snow on the shoulders. These conditions lasted only for a few miles at a time and are likely from isolated snow squalls during the night. Our trip back was entirely dry pavement.
Dec 3: We drove back today to Grand Marais today starting in Stewartville, going to worship in Rochester, visiting Teresa's mom before heading back. We ran into a couple intense snow squalls up the North Shore lasting for about 5 miles each before returning to no snow and dry pavement. Temps today were in the upper 30's until we got to Lake Superior.
Dec 2: We traveled around southern Minnesota today visiting with family. It was so much fun that I found myself not even missing Lake Superior but Lake Superior is always a topic of discussion with family, friends, or strangers.
Dec 1: We left this morning for southern Minnesota leaving the resort in the hands of our son. The trip down to Minneapolis was beautiful but with mostly overcast skies and temps in the 30's leaving Grand Marais at 32 and arriving in Minneapolis for the Augsburg Advent Vespers at 39 degrees.
November 2023
Nov 30: The day started with clear blue skies and just a few high thin clouds over the lake horizon. However, that changed to overcast skies until around sunset when skies once again began to clear. With the clearing night sky, the strong possibility of northern lights may be out tonight. It was 30 when I woke up. Our high was 39 and our low fro the day is right now at 8pm with 28 degrees and falling. Lake Superior was a steel gray with 2-3ft waves from the SE.
Nov 29: The light snow continued through the night and we woke up to clear skies with thin white clouds near the lake horizon. Snow accumulation was less than an inch. Temps continued to rise overnight and I woke up to 32 degrees this morning. Lake Superior is blue and has 2ft waves from the south with green shadows. Where the sun is reflecting off the surface is blinding white.
Nov 28: It was very cold this morning. We started at 11 degrees at daybreak and dropped to 8 degrees around 10am before gradually ascending. We are at today's high of 27 at 8pm. The high for the day will probably be at midnight. Snow began around 2pm and resulted in about a half inch blowing on the ground. Lake Superior had 3ft waves from the south today. I heard that there were places up the trail that were well below zero this morning.
` Nov 27: It was a blustering windy day today with powerful 3-4ft waves from the south poinding the shore. Our morning low was 11 and you could fell how much colder it was today. Lake Superior was a metallic gray. Our high topped out at 27.
Nov 26: Lake Superior had 2-3ft grayish blue waves from the south today with lightly overcast skies. It was cold this morning with a low again of 20 but we only managed a high of 31. We have snow flurries and we can see a storm to our south across the lake.
Nov 25: Our low this morning in Croftville was 20 and our high 34 this afternoon. Lake Superior had powerful 3-5ft metallic blue waves from the south today crashing into the rocks on our shore. Skies were mixed.
Nov 24: It got cold during the night all the way down to 16. This is the coldest morning by far next to the lake this season. We slowly made our way up to 31 by mid-afternoon before temps started the descent back down. We saw a couple freighters all lit up during the night. Today we had clear skies and plenty of sun. Lake Superior was blue with 1-2ft waves. The winds were from the west.
Nov 23: We have clear blue skies and 21 degrees this morning, a bit colder start than we have been used to. Out across Lake Superior are some thin clouds that are being backlit by the rising sun. We have a blue lake with navy shadows and just small waves brushing against the beach from the SSW. A Happy Thanksgiving Day to all.
Nov 22: We peaked at 37 today after a frosty morning with a low of 28. Once again we had strong gusts from the north keeping the waves near our shore subdued at least close to the Croftville shoreline. There was plenty of sun and some clouds today. Lake Superior was blue with navy shadows on its textured surface. We could watch the wind gusts move out over the water surface.
Nov 21: The day began with light rain and mist with a low of 33. We saw some clear skies across the lake horizon but we remained overcast except for briefly this afternoon when sun rays broke through in a few spots. The winds this afternoon were strong and from the north. The waves on Lake Superior are mostly subdued by the north wind. The surface is highly textured and blue gray with small waves from the south. Our high was 43.
Nov 20: Is this really November? We had a 27 low with frost quickly warming up to a high of 42. Skies were partly cloudy with a little overcast. There was just a gentle breeze in the air. Lake Superior was a metallic gray witrh 2ft waves.
Nov 18: Our temperature ranged from 32 to 47 today. We woke up to thin high cloudbanks over the lake horizon backlit with multiple colors from the rising sun. Skies were partly cloudy today with plenty of sun and little wind. It was a great day to be outdoors. Lake Superior was multiple blues with 2ft waves.
Nov 17: It was supposed to be colder today but it was once again warm here in Croftville with a low of 30 and a high of 48. Skies were partly cloudy and partly overcast. We watched two ore freighters go by at the same time in the middle of the night all lit up. Lake Superior had 2ft waves buffeting the shore. Walking around the grounds today we could see branches that broke from trees last night during the high winds.
Nov 16: The clear skies at sunrise quickly changes to overcast which lasted the rest of the day. Winds picked up in tghe afternoon as well as the metallic gray waves to 2-3ft. Our low this morning was 36 and the late afternoon high of 52 must be close to a record high for this date along the north shore.
Nov 15: We had clear blue skies from sun up to sun down today. The lake was a brilliant blue and we had a colorful sunrise and sunset. After a high of 48 yesterday, we dropped to 38 this morning and then repated a high of 48 again today. It was a gorgeous late fall day and a great day to be outdoors. Lake Superior has 2ft waves from the south.
Nov 14: Our low is 33 this morning. Skies are overcast. We heard the airforce jets from Duluth in the air but couldn't see them with the overcast skies. Lake Superior is steel blue and 2-4ft waves coming straight in from the SSE. The sun is creating white highlights on the crests of the waves where the overcast is thinnest.
Nov 13: We woke up to sun and enjoyed sun all day today. The sun rose temperatures from our low of 34 to a high of 47. Lake Superior was deep blue with 2-3ft waves running into the shore from the south.
Nov 12: Our low was 34 and our high an almost balmy 46 for mid-November. Lake Superior had 2ft waves coming straigh in from the SSE today banging against the shore. Skies were overcast this morning with glimmers of sun in the early afternoon. By mid-afternoon we had light misting rain.
Nov 11: The air is still this morning. Gitche Gami is still this morning and overnight with only ripples on the bluish gray surface from the SE. Our low was 31 and with the uniform gray overcast and clouds everywhere except in the east, it is unlikely it will warm up much today. To the east and SE there is a lighter sky and clouds that may be letting some sun through. It makes for a beautiful lake horizon but unlikely that weather is heading our way.
Nov 10: We had a dusting of snow this morning that stuck to elevated horizontal surfaces. Our morning low was 34 and our high was just a few dgrees warmer. It was cloudy and dark overcast all day until late in the afternoon when it appeared that there might be a break in the clouds, almost. The skies did lighten. Lake Superior had 2-3ft waves today against a dark navy cloudbank in northern Wisconsin and the UP.
Nov 9: It was 42 for a high today after a morning low of 33. Skies were cloudy. Lake Superior had 3-4ft waves pounding the shore. We watched several freighters moving along the shore as we traveled to Duluth today.
Nov 8: They were predicting snow overnight but the truth is it was just too warm by the shore to get anything but rain. Folks in Cook County further inland got 3 or more inches of snow, we got steady rain all night. As morning broke, we had 3-4ft waves buffeting the shore from the SSE. Skies were a dark gray overcast which hung around all day. Our low was 34 and our high was 42.
Nov 7: We woke up to clear skies except for a tall black cloud front across Lake Superior in northern Wisconsin. We had 2-3ft waves from the SE crashing into the rocks. Skies turned to overcast skies by mid morning and the wind picked up. By sundown we could feel there was a change in the weather coming. They are predicting snow for tonight and tomorrow morning. Our low was 30 this morning and our high was 46.
Nov 6: With the end of Daylight Savings Time it got dark early last night. Shortly after dark it began to rain and has rained onn and off all night and this morning. Skies are a medium gray overcast. The air is still. Lake Superior has grayish green 2-3ft waves coming in straight from the SSE to shore.
Nov 5: It got up to 42 degrees today but it felt much warmer after our low this morning of 28. Lake Superior had 1-2ft gray waves from the south. Skies were mostly overcast. It felt good to be outside without a cold wind.
Nov 4: Lake Superior was silent last night which is quite unusual for November. The silence kept me awake after being used to the roar of the waves. This morning the lake continued to be still but by noon the wave action had begun again with 1-2ft waves from the south. The lake was gray with black shadows. The skies are too overcast except near the horizon to form any reflections on the water. Our morning low was 23 and we just hit freezing at noon.
Nov 3: I woke up to 32 degrees and a blue Lake Superior with 2ft waves on a textured surface ponding the shore from the SSE. We have partly cloudy skies with high hanging white cumulus clouds dotting the skies. There is plenty of sun and at 3pm we are already to 44 degrees. The waves have calmed down through the day and are currently little more than ripples on the surface.
Nov 2: It was another beautiful deep fall day with a low of 23 and a high of 42. Lake Superior had 2ft metallic blue waves from the south with mostly cloudy skies and a little sun poking through.
Nov 1: Lake Superior was absoluting breath taking today. It was steel gray with 2-3ft waves from the south and blinding reflections from sunlight that managed to cut through the openings in a mostly cloudy sky with bands of heavy cumulus clouds. There was a strong wind from the lake that was bone chilling when it hit you directly. Our low this morning was 23 and our high was only 36.
October 2023
Oct 31: A cold and Happy Halloween. We have cloudy skies with patches of blue. Our low was 26 and our high is 35 today. Lake Superior has 1ft bl;ue textured waves from the south. When the wind blows it is quite cold working outside today. Teresa is all ready for trick or treaters. We will see if any of the Croftville kids will stop by. With Cecelia Rose away at collge we are not as popular a sight for kids.
Oct 30: There is a front of dark storm clouds this morning on the lake horizon. Lake Superior has 2ft grayish blue waves from the south on a textured lake surface. I watched an ore freighter pass by quite close on its journey to Duluth. You know the freighter is close when it passes by your field of view through a window quickly. We had a morning low of 25 this morning with frost on horizontal surfaces.
Oct 29: Our low was 26 this morning. This was our first below freezing morning in Croftville next to the lake this fall. It looks like our high will be 35 at 2:30pm with partly cloudy blue skies. Lake Superior has 3ft blue green waves with some whitecaps from the south.
Oct 28: We had an overnight low of 32 and a high today of 35. Lake Superior had 2-3ft grayish blue waves from the SE. We had a heavy frost this morning on the rooves.
Oct 27: With the rain from the past couple days plus overnight, most of the leaves have now fallen and the boreal forest now is looking like late fall. This should not be a surprise since we are in our last week of October but with the warm temperatures it has manged to sneek up on us. Lake Superior has 3ft grayish green waves from the SE. The air is still. Overhead on the land we have light gray overcast skies. However, over the lake we have cloud cover that is anything but monochrome. There are clouds that look like they are ready to have the sun pop out. There is a dark almost black navy band above the lake horizon which means storms in northern Wisconsin and the UP. Our morning low was 39.
Oct 26: After a high of 53 yesterday, we dropped to 42 this morning have only climbed 2 degrees today to 44 late this afternoon. There was rain this morning and gray overcast skies all day today. Lake Superior has impressive 3-4ft gray blue waves from the SE.
Oct 25: The low was again 44 this morning. Lake Superior is a grayish blue with 2ft roller waves from the SE on a textured surface. The air is still. About half our leaves are now on the ground. There is a sliver of light skies over across in the UP but everywhere else we have a light gray overcast.
Oct 24: Our low this morning was 44 and our high a remarkably warm 57 here in Croftville. Skies were dark today with light scattered rain at times. Lake Superior was a metallic gray.
Oct 23: There was light rain overnight and this morning. Lake Superior has dark metallic blue waves against a mixed sky. Our high this afternoon was 54.
Oct 22: As we drove north today I could tell by the time we got to Grand Marais that we are now just past peak color compared to southern Minnesota. We can now see leaves piling on the ground and thinning in the trees.
Oct 21: It was a windy day in Mankato with partly sunny skies and powerful gusts trying to strip the trees of their leaves. Joey said that he had not anticipated the headwinds he had to fight in the rural areas of the Mankato Marathon. His goal was 2:46 but he finished in 2:51. Good for 9th place overall. Not bad for having been sick the week before.
Oct 20: It was a beautiful drive down from Grand Marais to Mankato today. We really enjoyed the colors the entire way. The skies were mixed and when the sunlight hit the trees the colors really popped. We had a Subway lunch in Saint Paul in Horton Park near Hamline.
Oct 19: We have light gray overcast skies and rain today. It was raining when we awoke and it has only stopped for brief periods. Lake Superior has small silver waves from the SE. The monochrome of the lake blends right into the lake horizon and on into the sky overhead. The low was 49 and our high so far has been 53. Even with the overcast skies, the gold leaves in the boreal forest are spectacular.
Oct 18: We had 1-2ft waves from the south today with overcast skies most of the day. Our low was 43 and our high was 55.
Oct 17: There was frost on the rooves of the cottages this morning for the second time this fall after a morning low of 38 degrees. The stars were brilliant during the night and the crisp clear blue skies this morning confirmed why those stars danced in the sky last night. Lake Superior has 1-2ft deep blue waves from the south with white highlights and striking green shadows. The golds on Croftville Road are definately at peak color.
Oct 16: We had a low of 43 and a high of 54 today here along the lake in Croftville. There wasn't a lot of sun today but when it poked through the clouds and overcast, the rays lit up the gold leaves on the quaking aspens. Lake Superior had 1ft grayish blue waves from the SE today.
Oct 15: There is a band of light blue skies just above the lake horizon indicating clear skies and sun in northern Wisconsin and the UP. Everywhere else our skies are a gray overcast. Gitche Gami has 1ft dark grayish blue waves from the SE. The trees in Croftville are a brilliant gold even without the sun reflecting off their leaves. The air is still. Our low this morning was 43.
Oct 14: We had a temperature range today from 45 to 56. The skies had heavy dark cumulus clouds with breaks of blue sky and sunlight between them. I will speculate that today is the peak color hear alonf the shore in Croftville. The golds from the birch and quaking aspens are amazing especially when they get spotlighted with sun with a dark cumulus cloud backdrop. Lake Superior has 1-2ft dark blue waves from the SE an a deep navy blue sky just above the horizon. I saw 4 different ore freighter pass by during the night last night, one was very close, maybe only 1-2 miles.
Oct 13: What an amazing day hear along the shore in Croftville. There were times when I was cleaning that I had to just stop and take a few minute to be mesmerized by the beauty of the wind, the waves, the lake, and the leaves. There isn't much green left in the foliage anymore as we are very close to peak. I hope that these powerful winds will not strip the leaves off the trees before we get a chance to enjoy them. Lake Superior had 3-4ft brilliant blue metallic waves from the SE with stark whitecaps. The skies to the south of the lake are dark blue suggesting quite a storm in nothren Wisconsin. Overhead we have heavy cumulus clouds with gray bottoms with breaks of blue skies. The wind is unrelenting.
Oct 12: The rain began in earnest early this afternoon and we continue to have bouts of rain into the evening. Out low this morning was 45 and we have a high of 55 late in the day. The skies over the land are still cloudy and gray but skies over the lake have cleared up. This gives us 2-3ft blue metallic waves from the SE the pop out against the dark skies over the shore.
Oct 11: The colors are now spectacular along Lake Superior with litttle pure green foliage left. Our low was 43 this morning and 52 this afternoon. There is some sun over the lake but mostly cloudy skies over the land. Lake Superior has 1-2ft waves from the SSE on a textured surface. Giving Lake Superior a color right now at 5pm is impossible. Looking in the directon of the sun we have silvers and light blues. To the south we have a brownish gray lake with dark olive green shadows. Off towards the SE we have steel blue waves with navy shadows but as you get close to shore those shadows turn to a translucent green. It's a little like looking closely into someone's eyes and realizing that just one color can never do justice in descibing what you see.
Oct 10: Our low this morning was 43 after a high of 46 yesterday. Today we maxed out at 53. Lake Superior is a grayish blue with only ripples on the surface. Skies are mostly cloudy with occasional small patches of sun. The air is still. Across the lake there is a dark navy band of clouds above the horizon.
Oct 9: Our low was 39 and our high was 55 today. Skies have been mostly cloudy with occasional sun breaking out. Lake Superior is steel gray with a textured surface and only ripples. The air is still.
Oct 8: It is a beautiful cloudy morning with bands of cumulus clouds in the sky occasionally letting the sun peak through on the lake. Lake Superior has 1ft grayish blue waves from the SE this morning. There is a gentle swirling breeze in the air. The weather has changed and with it so has the paths of the ore freighters who have now begun taking the more northern rout across Lake Superior as the weather becomes more unpredictable. I saw 2 freighters during the day and 2 all lit up during the night. It is fun to see them passing by Croftville again. Our low this morning was 43.
Oct 7: There was frost on the cottage rooves this morning. Our low was 34 after a surprising late afternoon high of 68 yesterday. Today our temps not manage to get to 60 sitting in the mid 50's. It was a great day to be outside with mostly sunny skies with small cumulus clouds dotting the blue. Lake Superior had 2-4ft blue metallic waves from the south. Although well past peak for the inland maple trees, colors are now finally peak here along the Lake Superior shore.
Oct 6: There were 4-5ft waves pounding the shore from the south last night in the moonlight. The sound was almost a roar outside between the waves and the wind. Our low was 48 again after a high in just the mid 50's yesterday. It feels good to have temps closer to seasonal averages. We have gray overcast skies with a gentle north wind today. The lake has calmed a bit with 2-3ft gray waves still from the south.
Oct 5: The overnight low of 48 after a high of 68 yesterday was a sign for a change in the weather. And change did come. After a flurry of cloud fronts followed by bouts of sun for the morning and early afternoon, the real storm hit about 3pm. Tremendous winds from the west required us to scramble to take down all of Teresa's hanging art from our porches. Then the rain came down in sheets and the waves on Lake Superior surged to 5ft. The inital line of this storm was impressive. Afterwards, the storm settled into a series of rainfalls.
Oct 4: We had strong winds during the night which made sleeping comfortable even with a warm 62 overnight low. The high yesterday afternoon was 73 as our unseasonable warmth continues. This morning we had some sun but the weather fronts are moving quickly and now at 11am we have dark cloudy skies. Lake Superior has 3-4ft gray waves with green shadows from the south. I noticed leaves stripped from the trees this morning after the winds during the night.
Oct 3: Lake Superior has 1ft blue waves hitting the shore straight in from the SSE. The skies are clear of clouds and blue but a bit hazy. This is especially true over the lake with the sky turning white and blurry at the horizon. Our low was a very warm 60 after a high of 71 yesterday. Colors on Croftville Road are impressive this morning. We must be getting close to peak color hear along the lake.
Oct 2: It is an absolute picture perfect morning here beside Lake Superior. We have a heavy morning dew on the grass. Skies overhead are clear blue. There is a light lake breeze. Lake Superior has a white haze over the horizon and has 1ft pale blue roller waves from the SSE. Our low this morning was 59 degrees after a humid high of 70 yesterday.
Oct 1: There are hazy blue skies today that turn to a white overcast as we approach the lake horizon. It is humid (at least by Grand Marais standards) and it is warm (68 at 2pm). Our morning low was 60 after a high of 68 yesterday. Lake Superior has 1-2ft greenish blue waves from the SE.
September 2023
Sep 30: Our morning low was 62 this morning. That is remarkably warm overnight temperature for the last day of September. We have a small lake breeze with 1-2ft steel gray waves from the SE. Skies are cloudy with no sun getting through. The leaves are now rapidly changing color down on Croftville Road.
Sep 29: Our low was 61 and our high 68 today. Skies were mixed with plenty of sun in the morning but mostly clouds later in the day. Lake Superior had 1-2ft waves from the SE with colors changing as the sky changed.
Sep 28: The warm nights continue with a low of 60 last night after an afternoon high of 67 yesterday. We have overcast and cloudy skies with some dark clouds to the SW. Gitche Gumee has 2-3ft steel gray waves from the SE with transluscent turquoise shadows near the shore. There is a light breeze in the air.
Sep 27: A warm low of 59 after a high of 63 yesterday. We have strong gusty winds, blue skies overhead, and a hazy lake horizon. Lake Superior has 2-3ft metallic steel blue waves from the SE. It is one of my favorite Lake Superior views and this is the time of year you see it the most.
Sep 26: We had a low of 59 and a high of 70 today. Lake Superior had 2-3ft blue waves from the SE. Skies were mostly clear but there was some overcast at times.
Sep 25: We took a drive yesterday to enjoy the turning leaves yesterday. I always love the maple tree canopy the almost covers the road from the sky on County Road 60. The winds have stripped more of the maple leaves than I would have suspected considering the birch and aspen are still a ways from peak. This is especially true down by Lake Superior. After a high of 66 yesterday and a little rain in the early evening hours, we have dropped to 59 this morning. The winds continue and there is plenty of sun even though the skies have a haze and some high clouds. Lake Superior has 2-3ft blue waves with army green shadows from the SE.
Sep 24: Our morning low was a warm 61 today. We had rain and lightning during the night and strong winds. Lake Superior has 3ft blue waves with whitecaps from the SE this morning. Close to shore the waves turn to a brownish green from the churning of the water on the lakebed and perhaps runoff from yesterday's rain. Skies are a hazy white with no sun and high thin clouds.
Sep 23: We had a high of 64 and low of 60 today, only a 4 degree spread for the day. It rained during the night with an amazing light show and then rained all day, heavy at times with a dark gray overcast sky. The swirling wind gusts kept blowing rain into the inn from different directions. Lake Superior has 2-3ft dark gray waves from the SSE.
Sep 22: Our warmth has continues with a high in Croftville of 70 yesterday and a morning low of 59 today. There was some light rain and ligthning overnight. We had some sun this morning but we have fgo coming off the lake this afternooon. You can feel the mist on your arms and face. There is a steady wind from the east. Lake Superior has only about 100ft for visibility with the fog. There are 2ft gray waves with olive shadows from the SE.
Sep 21: We had a low of 58 last night after a high of 70 yesterday afternoon. These are surprisingly warm temperatures for later September. There is a light comfortable swirling breeze. The skies are sunny but hazy. There are a handful of small cumulus clouds passing by. Lake Superior has 6" blue waves on a textured surface from the south.
It is one week since our little gray and brown tabby cat, Wylie, disappeared. I suspect his life ended that morning when I let him out at 4am and he wasn't back for breakfast at 7am. I tried letting him out upstairs but he would have none of that. He cried and coaxed me downstairs to feed him blocking my feet as I tried to go down the steps. He ate a little and then wanted outside. I opened the door and he darted out and then darted back in before I could close it. He jumped up on the counter and I turned the faucet on to a small drip so he could get a fresh drink. Then he jumped down, ate a little more of his food and then whined to go out. I picked him up in a cradle position and asked, "Really, you sure you want to go out?" He did his sort of impaired nasal breathing which was the closest he came to purring. I put him down, opened the door and he slowly went out. "What do you want to do?", I asked. Then he darted down the steps toward Lake Superior and that was the last we saw of him. My guess is a predator got him and I hope he didn't suffer. I searched for several days in case he was only injured and he would call out to me. I checked all the neighbors buildings to be sure he didn't accidentally get shut in. I searched the ditches in case he had been hit by a car. I never got a sign of him. For the past days we had been hoping that he as a 10 month old male cat had just gone wandering even though he had been neutered. This is unlikely and grasping at straws. I will miss my little boy, Wylie. His life was too short but everyday he was with us he was held, fed, played with, and loved. He got to go outside whenever he wanted and let back in at his beckon call. He hunted little critters and birds, showed off to our guests, slept on the foot of our bed, and performed daring acrobatics on our covered porches. He had a good albeit short life. Goodbye, Wylie.
Sep 20: The strong lake wind from yesterday afternoon and evening is gone. We had a high of 66 and it did not cool off much last night here in Croftville. Our low was a warm 59. Today we have 1-2ft blue waves with navy shadows on the big lake from the SE. Our skies are clear blue except in the direction of the rising sun which is blinding white both in the sky and in the reflections off the lake surface.
Sep 19: The northern lights were out in force last night. Clear skies made them stand out along with all the stars. After a high of 65 yesterday, we dropped to 51 in the early morning. There is a lake breeze today and 2-3ft steel gray waves with dark green shadows from the SE. There is a narrow bright blue band of water at the horizon probably due to clear skies over in the UP. Elsewhere, skies are now partly cloudy with heavy gray bottomed cumulus clouds.
Sep 18: Lake Superior has a metallic steel gray surface today with 1ft waves on a highly textured surface from the south. Skies are a gray overcast except near the lake horizon. There we have a band of cumulus clouds and sun. Our low was 48 this morning after a hight of 62 yesterday. There is a brisk swirling wind today.
Sep 17: We dropped to 49 this morning after a high of 65 yesterday. Skies are overcast this morning. We have 1ft brownish gray waves from the SE on a highly textured surface. I can see breaks in the overcast at the lake horizon.
Sep 16: Our high was 64 yesterday afternoon and our lows was 54 ths morning. The waves were just booming last night. We easily had 4 ft plus waves during the night. Then as the sun began to rise things have calmed down considerably. At 11am we now have 1ft waves from the SSW on a rippled blue surface. Skies are blue with a few heavy hanging cumulus clouds. Our cat was spotted last night by one of our guests. I hope he comes home today.
Sep 15: Temps were pretty steady yesterday and overnight with a low of 58 and a high of only 63 yesterday. Rain began around 8pm and continued lightly for most of the night. Lake Superior is loud with 2-3ft blue gray waves with turquoise shadows from the SSE. The skies are a dark gray overcast. The winds from the last couple days have ceased. Each day there are more signs of color in the boreal forest. Our 10 month old black and gray tabby cat has now been gone for over 24 hours. I let him out at 4am yesterday morning as usual but he did not come back for his breakfast a 7am which is not usual. We hope he is OK and just off exploring but we fear that he has either been hit by a car or attacked by a predator. We have already eliminated the possibility that he accidentally got shut in a building. He is also extremely friendly and curious. He walks right up to people.
Sep 14: It was 45 this morning and is at 59 degrees at noon after a high of 62 yesterday. It feels surprisingly warm considreing this was our coolest night since last spring. I heard of frost inland in Cook County. We have partly cloudy skies again with the heavy gray bottomed cumulus clouds and sun. Lake Superior has 1-2ft waves on a choppy surface from the SE. They are blue with dark gray shadows and white highlights where the sun is in the open.
Sep 13: At 11am we have 1ft choppy blue waves with navy shadows from the SE and 54 degrees. It was 47 earlier this morning after a high of 57 yesterday. There is a steady wind from the SE. Our skies are half and half with blue skies and heavy gray bottomed cumulus clouds. Driving to Duluth yesterday we noticed the changing of colors particularly in the maples and apsens.
Sep 12: We woke to 2-3ft roller waves on a smooth deep blue gray surface from the SE. Skies are cloudy with a few spots that are trying without success to let the sun through. We had light rain through the night. After a high of 60 degrees yesterday, we dropped to 49 this morning. I think that is our first low in the 40's this fall. We have now likely entered the transition time where Lake Superior will now keep us warmer than inland at night rather than keeping us cooler than inland during the day.
Sep 11: Our low was 54 this morning and the waves on Lake Superior have picked up. There are 2-3ft gray waves with turquoise shadows from the SE. We have a steady wind from the SE as well. Over the lake we have cloudy skies with isolated spots where the sun is trying to break through. Elsewhere we have dark gray overcast skies.
Sep 10: It was a beautiful afternoon to be outdoors today. We had partly cloudy and partly sunny skies with a low of 54 and a high of 65. Lake Superior's waves were little more than ripples later in the day. About 3pm, skies became overcast and we had light rain for the rest of the evening.
Sep 9: It was a comfortable sleeping night with a low of 51 after a high of 63 yesterday. Lake Superior only has silver gray ripples from the rare oblique direction of the SW. There is a gentle swirling breeze. Skies are hazy at the horizons and partly cloudy overhead. It feels like a good day to work ourside.
Sep 8: Our high yesterday just made it to 60 with our low this morning at 53. Skies are cloudy and overcast this morning. I think I can smell smoke in the still air. Kitche Gami has a bluish gray monotrone surface with 6" to 1ft roller waves from the SSE brushing against the shore.
Sep 7: The low this morning was 53. Skies are cloudy with low hanging cumulus clouds. The sky above the lake horizon is a navy blue. Lake Superior has metallic gray 2-3ft waves with olive green shadows from the SE. The breeze is cold and it feels like fall.
Sep 6: After a high in the late afternoon yesterday of 80, a tremendous thunderstorm from the west moved in around 6pm. The rain came down in sheets. The sky became black with only the ligthning to ligth it up. The winds knocked patio furniture over and whipped the tops of the trees. It was an amazing storm that eventually settled into a heavy rain during the night. By morning, the storm was over and we had a low of 61 degrees and a cold wind coming through the windows. Lake Superior had 1-2ft gray roller waves from the south. Skies were overcast. Our high only got to the mid 60's before temps began to fall.
Sep 5: The warmth continues with 83 late yesterday afternoon and a low of 65 this morning. We are now at 77 at 2pm and they are expecting thunderstorms arriving in a few hours. Lake Superor has 1-2ft gray waves from the south with an overcast sky and a fuzzy horizon.
Sep 4: Yesterday in the late afternoon we spiked briefly to 82 here along the shore. That is probably our warmest temperature down by the shore in Croftville this year. We dropped to 67 early this morning but it was not the comfortable sleeping we are accustomed to with much humidity in the air. Luckily, we still had a comfortable breeze which has continued into today. The big lake has 2ft silver blue waves that have shifted to the SE. The horizon is fuzzy. Skies are overcast and we can smell wildfire smoke in the air today. Perhaps the overcast will keep temps down today. At noon we have still not hit 70 degrees.
Sep 3: After a high of 78 yesterday here by the lake it only cooled to 68 last night which with the humidity was almost uncomfortable for sleeping. I know, I have become a wimp living on the North Shore and have no tolerance anymore for heat nor humdity. Today we rose up to 79 degrees. Lake Superor this afternoon has 1-2ft blue waves with green shadows from the south. There is a comfortable breeze. The air is slightly hazy.
Sep 2: We saw the Space X satellite train move across the sky last night. What an unusual and unnatural phenomena. If my son had not known what it was, I would have concluded either a missile strike, an invasion force, or aliens. The skies were beautiful for watching stars until the almost full moon rose and dominated the night sky with it brightness. We had a high of 76 yesterday and a warm 62 overnight. Waves were 3-4ft at sunset crashing into our rocks but this morning have subsided to just 2ft blue waves from the south. Skies are hazy this morning but the sun can still cast a shadow.
Sep 1: It was a comfortable sleeping night with a morning low of 54, a gentle breeze, and the sound of waves breaking on the rocks. Yesterday was a beautiful day outdoors, not sure to call it a summer or fall day with a variety of sun, clouds, and a 72 degree high. The full moon was spectacular again as it rose above the horizon and through a series of cloud covers. Today, Lake Superior has 2-3ft blue waves with a hint of purple and green shadows from the south. The skies have some haze and high clouds but not enough to keep the sun from shining through.
August 2023
Aug 31: After an amazing red/orange/gold full moon lasy night, skies were overcast this morning before the sun came out around 10am. It was a 69 high yesterday and 54 this morning. Skies overhead are blue but over the lake are hazy but still allows sunlight through. Lake Superior has grayish blue ripples from the SSE with silver highlights. August ends with almost all berries now gone except the juneberries.
Aug 30: After a high of 67 yesterday afternoon we dropped to 52 this morning. There is a cool breeze and plenty of sun to warm things up. The skies are blue heavy cumulus clouds spread out. There is a continuous line of cumulus clouds spanning over the lake. Gitche Gumi has 1-2ft deep blue waves with dark olive shadows from the south.
Aug 29: We have 1ft grayish blue waves with dark gray shadows from the SE this morning. There is a crisp lake horizon line. The skies are mostly cloudy with heavy, low hanging, gray bottomed cumulus clouds but there is still sun poking through. We had light rain during the evening and through part of the night. Our overnight low was a warm 61 but our high was only in the mid 60's. It just didn't cool off during the night.
Aug 28: It was 51 this morning and it is 67 this afternoon. There is a breeze generally from the south. We have 1ft bluish gray waves from the south on a textured lake surface with a clear lake horizon line. The skies are overcast but with enough sun getting through to create shadows.
Aug 27: Our low was 51 this morning with a heavy dew and a clear sunrise. Temperatures rose into the 70's with a warm sun feeling so good on our faces. Lake Superior was a bright blue with 1-2ft waves hitting our shore.
Aug 26: Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I'm 64? Happy birthday to Teresa. We traveled north today from Prior Lake to return to Grand Marais. We left with 76 degrees at 10am and then watched the temperatures continue to go down as we drove north into what should be the heat of the day. We were down to 63 by the time we entered Two Harbors and visited the Tipsey Mosquito. By the time we were home in Croftville we were in the 50's. The big lake was intensely blue with silver highlights.
Aug 25: We celebrated Teresa's 64th birthday a day early with Divanni's pizza and a homemade chocolate zucchini cake today. It was hot in Prior Lake today but it felt so good to get out of the air conditioned space and enjoy outside air before things warmed up too much.
Aug 24: Today we headed south with a trailer full of furniture to Saint Paul to drop Cecelia Rose off at Hamline and her new apartment. Leaving around 10am, Lake Superior was blue, the sky was hazy, and the temperature was 60. We watched the temperature continue to ramp up until it was 92 degrees in Saint Paul when we arrived around 5pm. In spite of the heat, the twin cities was green and lush.
Aug 23: Camped on a narrow peninsula separating a smaller part of Sag from a more open part. We listened to Sag during the night as the protected side was still while the more exposed side had waves hitting the rocks exactly from the direction we were to head to exit our trip. It was hard to sleep because the sounds of the waves and the steady light rain gave us worry that we may not be able to cross Sag in the morning. Although the waves were still choppy, we got up before dawn and broke camp right before daybreak and headed for American Point. Although the wind and waves hindered our progress, we managed to manuever our way through Sag while keeping off big water for most of the way or at least protecting ourselves from the wind. We got off the water around 10am, our party got showered at Croftville Road Cottages and treated ourselves to huge quantities of "My Sister's Place" pizza before the rest of our crew departed to southern Minnesota and I collapsed on the couch.
Aug 22: We left Emerald Lake whose water was the color of its name and made our way throgh several portage trails with gorgeous mature cedar trees. We went through Plough, Ottertrack, Swamp, before ending up back in Sag on a peninsula campsite. We had battled mist, cold, and light rain all day. Once we got to our campsite we had a steady wind and a heavy mist.
Aug 21: Today we had an aggressive day of canoeing and portaging as we began our turn back through No Man Lake, That Man Lake, Sheridan, Carp, and finally Emerald Lake. We found an island campsite as the weather turned towards rain. We got camp and a tarp set up for our fire. It just poured rain overnight. In the morning I though I was clever collecting rainwater in the tarp only to find out the water was heavily smoke infused and almost undrinkable. Thank you to Gatorade to make it palletable.
Aug 20: We decided to make today a layover day on This Man Lake and our island campsite. Our bodies needed the rest and we explored without success for some mining ruins reported on this lake. However, it gave our 3 fishermen a chance to fish for which we were rewardes with a Small Mouth Bass, 2 Walleyes, and a Northern Pike shore lunch as appetizers before supper. The 2 bald eagles were also quite appreciative of the fish remains that were left on the rock.
Aug 19: We were in no hurry to break camp today enjoying a leisurely breakfast and were off on a short 4 portage day to This Man Lake. We made camp on an island campsite on this gorgeous lake with rock precipices lining the shoreline. It was hot and sunny and we took the time to have a swim and let some of the crew do some fishing. By sunset we could see a yellowish haze from northern Canada wildfires showing up and making thesetting sun and then the setting crescent moon almost orange.
Aug 18: The plan was to check conditions when we got up during night. If conditions were favorable we would break camp and head to Cache Bay. We got up and were on the calm water before daylight and watched the sun rise on a still Sag that only yesterday was unpassable. It was still breakfast time when we arrived at the Ranger Station and confirmed our trip permits into Quetico. We visited the Cache Bay pictographs and had lunch at Silver Falls. After a six portage day we finally found one suitable campsite on Bell Lake after several marked campsites were uninhabitable. It was a beautiful location but had the oddity that there were no flat surfaces anywhere on this site. The fresh burgers on an open fire were amazing.
Aug 17: We entered Gull Lake on our way to Sag and the Cache Bay Canadian Ranger Station. When we turned the corner from a protected channel in Sag out into open water, we were stopped cold by large waves generated from the powerful north wind. One canoe swamped while trying to reverse course. Once we rescued the canoe and our crew we retreated to a BWCA campsite to dry out, warm up by a fire, and regroup.
Aug 16: We will be heading into the BWCA and Quetico later today for a 6 night canoe trip. This morning we have 1ft silver gray roller waves from the south. There are small isolated areas on the surface that have a slightly different texture and color as if something was spliiled on the lake surface. The lake disappears seamlessly into the gray overcast skies. We have some fog on the shore. The lake was loud during the night and had up to 3ft waves at times crashing into the shore. The low was a warm 63 after a high yesterday afternoon of 74.
Aug 15: We are already to the Ides of August. Where has the summer, what little we get of it, went? We have clear blue skies everywhere except for thin high white clouds over the lake horizon. Although quiet during the night, the sun has already added energy to the big lake which now has 1ft bright blue waves with green shadows from the south. It warmed to 76 yesterday afternoon and dropped to 56 this morning. The juneberries are heavy right now causing their boughs to drop over from the weight. Wild raspberries are also ripe for the picking.
Aug 14: After a high of 73 yesterday we cooled to 58 overnight. Lake Superior was subdued during the night with the rustling of the small waves against the shore. This morning we have 1ft bright blue waves with navy shadows and silver highlights from the SE. We have a sharp horizon line with white high clouds across the lake. Everywhere else we have clear blue skies.
Aug 13: I listened to the waves during the night as they dissipated from 1-2ft waves banging into the shore to just ripples rustling against the shore by morning. We also woke up to sun and a crisp horizon line. There are some thin clouds over the lake but overhead skies are clear blue. As the sun rose, so have the waves. We now have 1ft blue waves with navy shadows from the SE at 1pm. There is a cool wind from the south. The low was 55 this morning and we are currently at 66.
Aug 12: The waves were buffeting the shore all night. When I woke up I saw 3-4ft monochrome gray waves from the south. The morning low was 59 and our afternoon high is 63. There are overcast skies again today but so far just a little rain in the form of a light mist. Waves have subsided through the day and are 1-2ft from the SSW.
Aug 11: We had a little bit of a light show during the night but mostly we just had a light steady rain that has continued into our morning. The low this morning was 56. We have gray overcast skies, gusty winds whipping the tree tops from the west, and a fuzyy white lake horizon. Lake Superior has 2-3ft gray waves with green shadows from the SE.
Aug 10: Our high today was 71 after a morning low of 56. It was a beautiful summer day with partly cloudy skies but with plenty of blue and sun. Lake Superior was blue with 1-2ft waves from the south. It is so refreshing to see skies without the haze from wildfires. It certainly looks like that haze will be part of a new normal for Minnesota in the summer months.
Aug 9: What an amazing thunderstorm and lightning display during the night. It was followed by a cool breeze from the NE. Overnight we had 58 degrees but things are warming up quickly with 66 degrees at 9am. The sky is clearest I have seen in several weeks with a pure sky blue and no sign of the have from wildfires that we have become accustomed to. Lake Superior has 1ft blue waves with navy shadows from the south. There is a slightly darker wide horizontal band near the horizon. There is also a thin bank of higher clouds over the UP and Wisconsin. Looks like a great day to be outdoors in Cook County.
Aug 8: We drove back from southern Minnesota today. It was a beautiful morning in Faribault with the skies hazy with wildfire residue. That haze continued all the way past Two Harbors when rain finally took over and washed the smoke from the air. It was obvious when we got to Grand Marais that there had been substantial rain today with soaked pavements, puddles, and wet grass. Visibility on the lake was limited from fog.
Aug 7: An entire day away from the big lake and I do miss it. Temperatures today were in the 80's but I had forgotten what it was like to be in the humidity. It was fun seeing the fireflies outside. I was impressed with how still it was near dusk but the temperatures were dropping so it was quite comfortable outside in the shade.
Aug 6: Our low this morning was 59. We drove to southern Minnesota today leaving an absolutely beautiful day along the North Shore for the heat of southern Minnesota. The high along the lake was 79 but the high in Faribault was 91. It was fun to enjoy the silver maples and oaks as we moved south. It was also sad to see the many dead ash trees, sometimes an entire street, sometimes and entire ash grove.
Aug 5: We have a light breeze from the east this morning and a blue hazy sky clear of any clouds but still with a little smoke in the air. There are 1ft blue waves with navy shadows from the SE. We are at 63 degrees after a morning low of 58 and a high of 76 yesterday. It should be a beautiful day for the annual Fisherman's Picnic in Grand Marais.
Aug 4: After a high of 84 here next to the lake in Croftville, we cooled off in the early morning ours to a comfortable sleeping temperatyure of 61. There is a brisk cool breeze from the SE coming off the lake. Lake Superior has 1-2ft blue waves with green shadows from the SE. The sky is clear but the haze from the Canadian wildfires is still visible especially at the lake horizon.
Aug 3: It only got down to 70 during the night before beginning to rise again this morning. We are currently at 81 degrees at 1pm which is our warmest temperature this year so far. I can smell the smoke in the air today which is blocking some of the direct sunlight. We have a comfortable brisk breeze from the west. Lake Superior is blue with small waves from the SSW.
Aug 2: Our low was 61 and our high 79 today matching our warmest day of the summer. I drove to Superior, Wisconsin to pick up a refrigerator to replace one that had failed in a cottage. It was 91 there so I should count myself lucky to have 79 with high humidity, a hazy sky, and a cool lake to sit beside.
Aug 1: Our low was 57 this morning. The skies are a yellowish brown haze today. We have 6" silver gray waves from the SE against an almost invisible horizon. The sun cannot break through the haze. Laying in bed during the night, the lake was quite calm. I could only hear some rustling of water against the rocks and every once on a while there was a slightly bigger wave that I could hear break against the shore.
July 2023
Jul 31: We ended yesterday along the lake with a high of 73 although I hear it was in the 80's away from the shore. Our low today is 59. The air is still, humid (at least for us), and hazy from wildfire smoke. I can't smell any smoke but the yellowish tint to the haze is something we are unfortunately becoming familiar with. Lake Superior is gray, mostly still with a textured surface, and has a fuzzy horizon.
Jul 30: There is a swirling cooling breeze mostly from the west that woke me up this morning. There are high clouds in the sky, bank after bank, that is preventing the sun from coming through along with some haze. Lake Superior is calm with a few ripples on its surface. However, it is calm enough that you can see every rock and boulder on the lake bed close to the shore. After a late afternoon spike in temperature to 75 after being in the 60's all day, we dropped back down to 59 this morning. I had my first ripe raspberry from the boreal forest today.
Jul 29: We had a little rain overnight and some sprinkles during the day today. Skies are a deep blue with white and gray heavy cumulus clouds dotting the sky. Gitche Gumee is various shades of blue with small waves from the SE on a textured lake surface. Our low was 60 after a high of 70 yesterday.
Jul 28: Our high yesterday afternoon was only 72 but it felt warmer with the high humidity. Overnight we dropped back to a comfortable 59 degrees. This is the first morning in about a week that we have woke up to sun. Either clouds, overcast, or fog have kept the morning sun from us. Lake Superior has 1ft silver blue waves from the SE with navy shadows. There are 2 narrow navy bands on the lake close to the horizon. The lake horizon is a hazy white that melds into clear blue skies. There is a light breeze and with the high humidity, there is a heavy dew on the grasses and leaves.
Jul 27: It stayed warm overnight with a low of 63. The lake was still until about 5am when the lightning and thunder started and it rained steady for an hour or more. This morning we have a brownish gray lake against a white fuzzy horizon. Skies are mostly cloudy and hazy. The haze I think is a combination of high humidity and smoke from the canadian wildfires which explains the brownish tint of the lake. There are 2ft roller waves from the SSE hitting the rocks.
Jul 26: We had a front pass by us at 5am this morning. First was a large gust of wind for about a minute followed by a downburst of rain. The rain tapered off but continued steady then until about 8-9am. After that initial gust of wind the waves picked up on Lake Superior and were 2-3ft by the time I got up around 8am. Waking up we had heavy fog and almost no visibility on the lake. The fog and waves finally dissipated in the late afternoon when the temperature spiked to 78 before dropping back down into the 60's by dusk. Our low was 57.
Jul 25: Lake Superior was calm with just ripples on the surface today. Most of the waves we saw occasionally were the wakes from boats out on the lake. Our low was 56 and our high was 74.
Jul 24: Lake Superior was glass this afternoon with fog forming over its still surface. The fog was powerful enough to form condensation on glass surfaces at the resort. Our low this morning was 58 and our afternoon high was a warm 77 here along the lake. This may be our highest temperature this summer. It felt good to see so many guests out enjoying the grounds this evening.
Jul 23: It was a beautiful summer day. We had a deep blue sky with some haze and high clouds. Lake Superior was a grayish blue with only small waves. Our high was 72 after a mornng low of 58.
Jul 22: After a high of 70 yesterday afternoon we dropped down to only 57 overnight. Skies are blue but hazy with some high thin clouds. Lake Superior is calm this morning and pale blue with ripples from the south. There is a narrow band of navy on the water right below the horizon.
Jul 21: There is a gentle breeze this morning in the tree tops. Skies overhead are blue with isolated cottonball cumulus clouds here and there. Over the lake we have no clouds but there is a haze or fog lingering over the pale blue lake surface. The surface is smooth with ripples from the south. The fuzzy horizon blends almost seamlessly into the sky. We began the day at 55. Jul 20: Our temperature range was from 52 to 66 today. Lake Superior has 1-2ft blue gray waves hitting the shore. We had overcast for most the day but that overcast broke up into partly cloudy skies with some sun later in the afternoon. There was a goo rain overnight along with some thunder and lightning but I slept right through it and had to listen to Teresa tell me all about it.
Jul 19: Our morning low was 52. Lake Superior is silent and glass this morning. There is not even a ripple on the pale bluish gray surface. There are some color variations with lighter and darker spots but not in any particular orientation. The lake horizon is fuzzy but clearly visible. Skies overhead are dark and overcast. Rain is expected today. The lake was too silent for us to sleep so we had to turn on our ceiling fan on high to get a little background noise.
Jul 18: The big lake was mostly calm today with small waves and ripples from the south on its surface. The lake changed colors man times today as our skies switched from overcast to clouds to partly cloudy to sun. The low was 52 and our high was only 61.
Jul 17: We have 1ft gray waves on a highly textured surface from the SSW this morning. Our low was 51 and we are currently at 63 around noon. We have a gentle breeze but from no particular direction swirling about. There is a dark navy horizon line with a narrow white band a little below the horizon. That must be a small break in the clouds over the lake but I cannot see it from my pespective. Skies are cloudy and it is dark outside for the middle of the day. We had a couple rain showers yesterday with heavy rain during the late morning.
Jul 16: It was such a still and silent night. No wind and a still, glassy Lake Superior. This morning the pale blue surface has just ripples on it. Our low was 51 after a high of 68 just before evening. Right now we have clear skies but we are to get rain later this morning.
Jul 15: It stayed fairly warm overnight with with a low of 57 after the afternoon high yesterday of 70. Boy, it really rained hard for awhile last night. It looks like we should get more rain today but it hasn't happened yet. At 3pm we have 63 with overcast skies, a little smokey haze, and the sun poking out at times. Gitche Gumi is bluish gray with 1ft waves from the south. Right now we can see a fuzzy horizon but most of the day that has been blocked by fog.
Jul 14: The big lake is still this mornng with just gray ripples from the south on a textured surface. Visibility is limited to about 100ft with the lake disappearing into a bank of fog. Overhead we have blue skies and we can see the delineation line for the top of the fog. The sun has rose enough that you can tell it is almost ready to peak over the fog. The air is still and with the silence of the lake, you can here the choir of brds. Our mornng low was 55.
Jul 13: Our high today was 71 after a morning low of 53. It was a sunny day and Superior is calm and glass with just occasional ripples from the wakes of boats out on the lake. I even saw a couple kayakers passing by the resort today. Lake Superior was a pale blue and fog sometimes formed and made the lake horizon disappear.
Jul 12: With a high of 70 and a low of 53, it had all the signs of a cool day. However, once again it depended on the fog, cloudcover, and sun. When the sun was out, it felt much warmer than in the 60's. When it disappered behind clouds or fog, it felt cold. Lake Superior was calm with just small blue gray waves from the south.
Jul 11: Sun, clouds, sun, clouds again and again. When the sun was out it got warm. When it clouded up it got cool. After starting the day at 51, our afternoon temps kept oscillating between 72 and 62. Lake Superior was gray with 1-2ft wavzes from the south.
Jul 10: We had heavy rains overnight with the first bout beginning about 8pm. Plenty of lightning and thunder, too. Lake Superior was also affected with 2-3ft waves for the first time in quite a while crashing at our shore. The low this morning was 53 and we are at 63 at 3pm. That sounds cold but there is plenty of sun and a gentle breeze which keeps us comfortable outside. Lake Superior is blue with turquoise shadows and 1-2ft waves from the south. In spite of the sun, the skies are hazy which is probably keeping our temperatures down.
Jul 9: We are 53 degrees this morning with a dark narrow line on the horizon. The sky above the horizon has a bark navy band that then turns into cloudy, overcast skies. We have small gray waves from the south this morning on a smooth lake surface. The air is still with a light fog.
Jul 8: There was an amazing double rainbow in the lat afternoon yesterday accompanied by a good steady rain. The primary rainbow was visible for the entire arch from horizon to horizon. The secondary arch was fainter but was visible everywhere except at the very apex. It was 52 this morning and our high was 68. It was a beautiful summer day mostly cloudy but with ample sun. Some of the clouds were quite dark but we never got any rain other than a raindrop here and there. Lake Superior has 1-2ft blue waves from the south.
Jul 7: We have a westerly breeze today. Lake Superior is a bright blue against a mostly clear blue sky. There are 6" to 1ft waves from the SSW. We have 2 dark navy bands of water near the crisp horizon line. It feels warmer than the current 62 degrees we have at 3pm. I suspect the air will continue to warm up perhaps into the upper 60's before the day is done. Our low this morning was 52.a
Jul 6: Our low was a warm 54 this morning but it has not warmed up much since. It looks like our high today will be 62. It is windy today. We have mostly cloudy skies overhead but mostly clear skies over the lake. The lake horizon is crisp and a light blue. There are 1ft blue waves from the SSW pushing into our shore. The thimble berries are in full bloom right now.
Jul 5: Once again our low was 53. We topped out at 68. There were on and off rain showers this morning. We have a wind generally from the south with small waves and ripples on the gray lake surface also from the south. Skies are mostly cloudy. Surprisingly we have a sharp gray lake horizon.
Jul 4: Our kids got up early today to do the 4th of July mud 5 mile course affectionately known as the Tofte Trek. It was muddy with a fast field this year. Our son finished in under 39 minutes about 20 seconds behing the winner. Lake Superior was calm again today. Although clear this morning fog formed out on the lake by mid morning limiting visibility on the lake to just a few hundred yards. The low of 53 this morning, the cool breeze off the lake, and no appearance of the sun until late afternoon kept us in the mid 60's for a high.
Jul 3: While the rest of Minnesota was in the 90's today, we had a low of 53 and a high of 73 today in Croftville. Lake Superior continues to be calm and we used the opportunity to get Teresa out in a canoe on Lake Superior for the first time in our 20 years here in Croftville. Today is our 20 year anniversary on closing and taking possesion of our property. The lake surface was warmer than I expected and the sun and lack of wind kept us warm enough while canoeing along the Croftville shore.
Jul 2: It was 51 this morning. We have clear blue skies and sun this morning. Lake Superior is still calm and a pale blue blending into the pale blue lake horizon. There is no fog on the lake this morning. It should be a beautiful summer day today but I have already seen signs of fall with a moose maple across the road from the inn already showing fall color.
Jul 1: We had a low of 59 this morning and a high of 65 today. The ripples on Lake Superior this morning dissipated to a glassy surface this afternoon. The visibility is just 100ft or less on the lake today as the pale grayish blue surface disappears into a white mist. I brought the canoe down to the lake for my daughter and her friends to make use of the calm lake. It was 10 degrees colder on the lakeside of the inn versus the roadside.
June 2023
Jun 30: It was cold this morning with 47. Fog was heavy and the lake was pretty much invisible. However, the sun was out over the land and warmed things up nicely today up to 67. Waves from the south picked up in the afternoon. They were blue with navy shadows and silver highlights as the fog dissipated.
Jun 29: It was a chilly 52 this morning with visbility on the lake of 100ft or less. Lake Superior had 2-3ft roller waves crashing the rocks from the SSE. Those waves dissipated to a calm smooth lake in the afternoon. Our high only was 58.
Jun 28: We traveled to Duluth today with on and off showers all day long. Up on the hill in Duluth there was a prolonged heavy rain completely drenching us going in and out of the stores. By late afternoon a heavy fog developed along the shore making road visibility extremely limited at times. The lake was swallowed up by a great blanket of white fog. Our low was 55 and our high was 64.
Jun 27: The smell of smoke in the air continues. Skies are lightly overcast today and as they clear up the yellowish haze from those fires becomes more visible. It was 78 for a high yesterday but only 66 today with our morning low of 59. Lake Superior is calm and pale blue with limited visibility.
Jun 26: We have 1ft monotone bluish gray roller waves from the SSE this morning. The lake horizon line is visible but fuzzy. Overhead we have a grayish yellow overcast. There is a light breeze and I think it is from the east but it is hard to tell with the way the air is swirling about. We had some more rain overnight and the re-greening of the forest and lawns are very noticable. The smell of smoke is still in the air. The low this morning was a warm 59.
Jun 25: We had a low of 53 and a high of 66 today. We had a steady rain overnight that was heavy at times in the early morning. Lake Superior had 2-3ft gray waves from the SE today. The sun tried to burn off the overcast skies in the afternoon but it only left the yellowish haze from the Canadian fires which you could really small today. By late afternoon I could already begin to see the foliage in the boreal forest deepening in color and a little more green on our dormant lawns just from the couple rains of the past days.
Jun 24: We had a high of 78 yesterday late in the afternoon and there was the smell of smoke from Canadian wildfires in the air. Rain finally came during the night but it wasn't very much compared to the lightning and thunder. At least it was enough to have the pavement still wet this morning. This morning it got down to 57. The air is still. The lake is still and gray. The skies are gray. Mosquitoes are as bad as I have ever seen them here along Lake Superior. I am at a loss as to why we have so many. We are currently conducting a crusade to get them out of the inn. With so many doors opening and the mosquitoes coming in on clothing, we are getting bit up even inside.
Jun 23: The lake is glass this morning. It is a pale grayish blue that disappears into the mist and fog after a couple hundred yards. The air is also still. We are at 54 this morning after a high of 69 yesterday here in Croftville.
Jun 22: We had 52 this morning with a cool breeze coming off the calm pale blue Lake Superior. Visibility on the lake is only about 50 yards disappearing into a cloud of fog. Overhead we have blue skies slightly hazy due to Ontario fires. I can see that our lilac flowers are beginning to bud. This is a little early next to Lake Superior but might have to do with stress from the lack of rain.
Jun 21: It was a beautiful first day of summer today. We started out at 52 and climbed to a high of 77 with blue skies and sun today. Late afternoon fog began forming out on the lake and temperatures began their descent. We are now at 62 at 8pm. Visibility on Lake Superior is limited to about 100ft with 1ft roller waves from the SE. Skies overhead are still clear but I can begin to see a little of the yellowish haze that has been absent the last few days.
Jun 20: We have clear blue skies this morning with just wisps of a few high clouds. No sign of any smokey haze today. There is a cool breeze from the SE that goes along with the 1-2ft silver blue waves with dark olive green shadows from the SE. It was 50 degrees this morning but we have already warmed to 58 by 10am. I noticed that the honeysuckles and our crab apple are now blooming. The white blooms on the crab apple are stunning.
Jun 19: The pattern without rain is becoming alarming. We have certainly had extended dry spells in the past but I cannot recall it happening in May and June when we expect everything to be greening up. The grass is now completely dormant with no green except for the dandelions. We had a chilly beginning with 47 and with some sun in a hazy sky we managed to get to 64 today. Lake Superior has 1-2ft greenish gray waves from the SE that turn blue at the horizon line. The air is calm.
Jun 18: It was a chilly 49 this morning. We warmed up to 59 this afternoon but couldn't break 60 here along the shore. Lake Superior is a greenish gray with 1ft waves from the SE today. These are the largest waves we have seen here on the big lake in at least a couple weeks. Although a little fuzzy, we can see the lake horizon today as well. Overhead we have high clouds and still some haze which keep us from blue skies nd crisp sunlight. The juneberries are pretty much done blooming and now the Canada Cherry has begun blooming.
Jun 17: After a high of 67 yesterday we dropped to 49 overnight and only got back up to 60 degrees here in Croftville today. The air is mostly still. Lake Superior has just ripples on a smooth pale blue surface from the ESE. Visibility is only a couple miles before disappearing into a hazy mist. Overhead there are some clouds but also a yellowish have from Canadian smoke drifting past us.
Jun 16: The skies are clearer today. Overhead we have blue skies with just a little haze to them. Over the lake the grayish blue water disapprears quickly into a white fog bank. Visibility on the lake is less than 100 yards. Again the lake only has small waves brushing the shore on a smooth surface. We began today at 48 and are at 55 at 11am. There is a cool breeze. We sure would love to get some rain, everything is so dry especially for the middle of June.
Jun 15: Our low was 48 and our high was 63 today. Skies were a yellowish gray overcast presumably from the Canadian wildfires. Lake Superior was a grayish blue with only ripples for waves brushing against our shore. It was a beautiful night for campfires and our guests were being responsible keeping them small within our campfire rings.
Jun 14: It hit 80 degrees at noon yesterday and we were getting ready for an uncomfortable afternoon. The the winds changed a little and the temperature began to drop. By mid afternoon we were back to 70 degrees and stayed in the 60's the rest of the day. We were at 58 this morning. Skies are a grayish brown overcast no doubt from the Canadian wildfires. The lake is calmed down from the pleasant 1ft waves yesterday afternoon. It is a pale grayish blue hue.
Jun 13: It actually warmed up overnight and we woke up to 59 degrees this morning. It is already at 69 dgrees at 10am and this could be the warmest day this season if the trend continues. Lake Superior is a dark blue with a textured surface but no discernable wave direction. Skies are a hazy blue with some high thin clouds over the land. Mosquitoes continue to be a nuissance which is relatively rare close to the shore of Gitche Gumee.
Jun 12: Our low this morning is 43. We have clear blue skies with a little gray haze in places. There is a thin dark navy line at the horizon, probably some sort of mirage. Yesterday, if I didn't know better, I would have sworn I could see land across the lake. The mirage was very convincing. Lake Superior is smooth and blue with only ripples on its surface this morning.
Jun 11: It was a picture perfect June early summer day on the North Shore today. We had a low of 43 and a high of 62 here at our resort. Lake Superior was a deep blue with only small waves mirroring the blue sky. It was cool enough to be comfortable in the sun but a little chilly in the shade without a ligth jacket.
Jun 10: After a high of 62 yesterday we woke to 43 this morning. We had a small amount of rain in the early morning hours just enough to get the pavement and sidewalks wet, but that is it. Conditions are very dry, even the quack grass and crab grass on our septic mounds are going dormant. Lake Superior has 6" gray waves from the SE. The horizon line is fuzzy. Skies are cloudy and overcast.
Jun 9: The lake was glass this morning with a west wind creating small ripples on the surface. The low was 48 this morning and we are at 57 at 3pm. Skies are white overcast. Lake Superior is bluish gray with good visibility but an indistinct white horizon.
Jun 8: We began at 47 this morning and are at 57 at noon. Lake Superior continues its calm run with just ripples on a smooth surface and a hazy sky with high clouds.
Jun 7: Our low was 47 and our high 68 here in Croftville next to the big lake. The moon was spectacular to watch during the evening hours as it rose through a series of cloudbanks. It reminded me more of a sunrise than a moonscape. The moisture and humidity over the water can create amazing visual effects.
Jun 6: We returned to Lake Superior from Saint Paul today. It was so good to experience the temperature gradient as we dropped into Duluth from Thompson Hill. It was a drop of 30 degrees in just a couple miles. We dropped to 47 by the time we got to Two Harbors around 6pm.
Jun 5: It was off to southern Minnesota this morning to drop our daughter off at Hamline for a short summer internship for the month of June. We left here this morning with 48 degrees and fog and got to Saint Paul with 93 degrees and sun. It is interesting to see the leaves in the twin cities dark green, dense, and mature to our light green immature leaves that we have here still.
Jun 4: We woke to 53 this morning after a warm high of 75 yesterday afternoon. Lake Superior is a flat deep blue with only a few ripples on its surface this morning. How such a large body of water can be that calm is puzzling for me. Although we have hazy deep blue skies overhead, visibility on the lake is about 100 yards before it disappears into a white fog.
Jun 3: Our low was 49 this morning and we are at 59 at 11am. Skies are a hazy blue. The juneberries are now in full bloom. Lake Superior has small gray waves from the ESE brushing against the rocks. Visibility on Lake Superior is just a hundred yards as the lake disappears into the fog and mist.
Jun 2: Today was a good reminder of how much Lake Superior changes the weather on its shoreline. We had a low of 47 and a high of 70 here along the shore today. The 70 was not very long-lived as fog from the lake drifted in and out most of the afternoon and cooling thing down quickly. However, away from the lake even a couple miles temperatures were hot and well into the 80's most of the day. My brother described descending down into Duluth the day before going from the upper 80's to the low 50's in just a few miles as they approached the lake.
Jun 1: June enters with a low of 49 and we are at 64 at 3pm which is probably our high for the day. We can hear Lake Superior today for the first time in many days with 1ft silver gray waves from the SE. The horizon is indistinct as the gray lake dissolves into a lighter gray sky. The juneberries (service berries) are not blossoming
May 2023
May 31: We had an amazing lightning storm to the west last night accompanied by a little rain. Overnight was surprisingly warm with a low of only 53 here in Croftville. The air is still, the lake is calm, and the skies are mostly blue. The big lake has only ripples on the slightly textured surface from the SSE. The hummingbirds are going crazy. The wild strawberries are blossoming.
May 30: Predictions of heavy rain materialized into a couple short-lived light rains in the afternoon. Lake Superior continues its current streak of calm and pale blue waters. We have an indistinct white horizon today as the pale blue water melds into a white mist and sky. Our low this morning was 46 and our high was 62.
May 29: It was 46 this morning with a high of only 56 this afternoon. The cool breeze off the lake kept the shoreline cold today next to Lake Superior. Once again we had a calm lake with just ripples on a glass surface from the SE.
May 28: The calm, quiet conditions on Lake Superior continue. Our morning temp was 48 and we are at 62 degrees at 4pm. Lake Superior is a glassy pale blue that disappears into fog hiding the horizon. Overhead we have some high clouds and haze. The sun is hot but not as hot as the lake is cold. Lake Superior has kept us just breaking 60 degrees.
May 27: Lake Superior is still and glass in most places this morning. There are a few textured bands of water breaking up the pale blue surface. Our temperature this morning iis 48. The air is still. Our lilacs are beginning to leaf out. Overhead we have a purplish blue sky that changes to white as we approach the indistinct lake horizon.
May 26: It was an amazing range in temperatures today in Croftville. Our low was 37 and our high a remarkable 70 which is quite unusual bext to the lake in May. Obviously there would be no chance to get that warm if there had been any kind of breeze off the lake. Lake Superior was silent and pale blue today with only ripples on a smooth surface from the SE. Plenty of blue sky and sun to warm the land up.
May 25: What a beautiful but chilly day today. We started at 37, were still only in the 40's this afternoon but somehow managed to pull of a high of 60 in the late afternoon. There were blue skies with high white thin clouds. Lake Superior was that gorgeous metallic blue against a pale blue horizon with 3ft waves breaking from the SE.
May 24: We have a grayish blue Lake Superior with 2-3ft waves from the SE this morning. There is a cold wind from the east. Our temperature this morning is 44. We have some thin high clouds in the sky but there is also a haze that is probably still from the wildfires in Canada.
May 23: It was a hazy day partly from wildfires in Canada. Our low was 43 and our high late in the afternoon was 57. The news reported a high of 75 in Grand Marais today. It is possible it got that warm up on the hill at the airport but that was not even in the ballpark down here near the shore. Lake Superior has 2-3ft gray waves from the SE that have a little brown in them close to the shore. We had a little rain this morning but most of the day was dry. The hummingbirds are driving our kitten nuts.
May 22: We started our day at 44 this morning and temps are not rising very quickly. Lake Superior is a silver gray with 1ft waves from the SE. Skies are hazy this morning but there is still a distinct horizon line and the sun is creating shadows.
May 21: It was 42 this morning and a high of 55 this afternoon. It was another beautiful day out today but cooler than yesterday. Lake Superior was a grayish blue with 1-2ft waves.
May 20: Out high today was a warm 69. It was a beutiful day to watch the Lake Superior Trail Runs on the SHT near Lutsen Mountains. My son Joey won the 25K race in just over 2 hours. Trees are leafing out now in what seems like real time. The gooseberries are beuatiful this year. Lake Superior is blue today. We enjoyed our first fire on our covered porch today for the season and could watch several guests having their own campfires.
May 19: It has been raining lightly ever since I got up today. Reminds me of Eugene, Oregon in the winter time. A low of 39 and a high of 49 while being drizzled to death. Skies are a combination of gray clouds and gray overcast. The buds are coming out quickly today with the rain. I stepped out from the church yesterday and could see the beautiful faint pale green sheen on the Sawtooth Mountains as the aspens begin to leaf out. Lake Superior is bluish gray with ripples from the SE on a textured surface.
May 18: It was 39 again this morning and we are at 49 at 1pm. There are gray overcast skies with predictions of rain this afternoon. The lake is silver with gray shadows. It has 1-2ft rollers on a textured surface. The air is mostly still.
May 17: We had 39 degrees this morning with frost on the rooves of Cottage #1 and Cottage #2. Our high today was 51. Skies werer overcast today and when the wind blew off the lake thing cooled down quickly by the shore. Lake Superior was gray with 1-2ft waves from the SE.
May 16: We had sun, we had clouds, we had overcast. The sky just kept changing today. After an amazing high of 70 yesterday by Lake Superior we woke up to 61 this morning and from then on the temperatures dropped. With a breeze off the lake we were at 40 by noon and then stayed in the 40's the rest of the day close to Lake Superior. Lake Superior was blue with 2-3ft waves from the SSE. Skies had a haze on them which was from wildfires in Wisconsin. The rising sun this morning was red.
May 15: It is good to wake up to Lake Superior again after a 3-day hiatus. We have 1-2ft blue gray waves from the SSW this mornng against a white horizon that opens up into clear blue skies. There is some sort of mirage at the horizon that looks like a white shoreline across the lake. It was a chilly 40 degrees this morning which is probably normal but feels cold after 3 days in southern Minnesota.
May 14: Once again there was that sigh that relaxed me as I went over Thompson Hill and could see the blue Saint Louis River opening into Lake Superior. We left the twin cities this morning in a rainstorm and in the upper 60's. By Forest Lake the sun was out and we were in the 70's all the way to Duluth. Descending into Duluth the temperatures dropped into the low 50's and by the time we got to Grand Marais at 7pm we were in the mid to low 40's. We watched spring go back in time from fully leaved trees in Prior Lake to the aspens just budding in Grand Marais.
May 13: We are spending the day in Prior Lake celebrating my mother's 89th birthday. I had to wear shorts today. It was just too warm and humid for long pants and a sweatshirt with temps in the 70's. I think our warmest day so far in Grand Marais this spring was 61 for a high. We even slept with the windows open which has not yet happened next to Lake Superior.
May 12: We traveled to Saint Paul today to pick up our daughter from Hamline University as she completed her first year. It was fun to watch the progression of spring as we traveled south. While still waiting for our aspens to leaf out here in Cook County, even the oak trees were fully leafed out in Saint Paul.
May 11: There is limited visbility over the lake this morning with thick fog in places. Some of the fog has moved over the land in spots. The lake is a pale blue with only ripples on the surface that gently swoosh against the shore. The sun continues to burn off the fog slowly. It was 44 this morning after reaching 59 yesterday. It is strange for the lake and wind to both be mostly silent. The pussy willows are losing their fuzz as their buds begin to leaf out.
May 10: I woke up during the night to a moon trying to break through a cloud bank over the water. But I think the real reason I woke up was that the lake was still and silent. You get used to the background noise of the lake and sometimes its absence is almost deafening. Gitche Gumi is a pale blue this morning. There is a light haze in the blue skies and plenty of sun.
May 9: The weather people were threatening small rain showers all day but they never materialized here in Croftville. We had some overcast at times (especially in the morning), some clouds, but plenty of sun in the afternoon. Lake Superior had 2ft blue waves from the SE. Our low was 44 and our high spiked in the afternoon to 62.
May 8: Our low was 45 this morning. Lake Superior has 2-3ft waves from the SE breaking into the rocks. There are 2 horizontal bands. Closer to shore we have a copper colored band of water. About a half mile out it changes to a aqua blue band. The skies are hazy but still allow the sun to make shadows. We can see faint bands of clouds through the haze.
May 7: Our low was 44 and our high is right now at 10pm of 49 degrees. The day was filled with gray overcasst skies and light rain coming down from time to time. Lake Superior was gray with 1-2ft waves from the SE.
May 6: I missed my relaxing breath I always get when I come over Thompson Hill on Interstate 35 and spot Lake Superior. It is the first of a series of 3 relaxing beaths I take as I head to our home in Croftville. So why did I miss it today. Because from Esko to Duluth there was a fog so dense that the enveloping white allowed visibility of 2 to maybe 3 car lengths. But once I got down to lake level we passed under this dense fog leaving us only with a light fog and a raining mist all the way from Duluth to Grand Marais. The low this morning was 42 and the high was only 46 today. It was wonderful to gaze on a gray Lake Superior with only limited visibility.
May 5: We traveled to Faribault today to attend a funeral mass for a cousin-in-law. It was good to see so many of my cousins, aunts, and uncles. While we were gone Croftville had a high of 60 and a low of 46. It was fun to see the progression of spring as we traveled south through Minnesota. The first buds on the aspens were near Two Harbors. The first pale green leaves on the aspens were around Moose Lake. The first mature aspen leaves showed up around the northern suburbs. By the time we were south of Minneapolis most of the fields had been tilled or planted. I already miss the lake even though I only had my last glimpse of it this morning as the sun was rising and we were ascending Thompson Hill in Duluth.
May 4: The waves are back today. We have 2-3ft copper colored waves from the SE today that become more of an aqua color further out from shore. There are a good deal of whitecaps. The sky is hazy but you can still see the sun come through to form shadows and you can still make out the faint banks of clouds through the haze. We started at 41 this morning and are at 48 at noon. I saw some gooseberries in the woods that are getting ready to leaf out. The gooseberries leafing out is always one of the first signs of the boreal forest greening up on Cook County.
May 3: It was 33 this morning and 54 this afternoon. The air is still. Lake Superior is still with a graytish blue rippled surface. Skies were overcast so it did not feel as warm as it was. We saw a strange ship go by today. It was white, it looked like a small ore freighter. Teresa looked it up and it was called a tug ship whatever that is.
May 2: We still have some wind today but nothing like the powerful winds like the last 2 days. Our high was 47 yesterday, dropped to 37 this morning, and so far is back to 45 today. We have navy blue ripples from the SSE on a textured lake surface today. Skies are a gray overcast but even without the sunlight, our remaining snow continues to melt.
May 1: The winds are powerful with even more powerful gusts from the NNW. The gusts hit the lake and spread out over the lake surface. Skies are mostly cloudy over the lake and mostly blue abd sunny over Croftville. You can see large waves out away from the shore but the powerful wind is subduing the waves close to the lakeshore. We saw 2 ships pass by during the night all lit up and one freighter go by this morning. Our low was 38 this morning.
April 2023
Apr 30: We had a low of 36 this morning followed by a high of 43. It was a gray overcast and very windy day. A drizzling rain was still coming down this morning but the high winds made them feel sharp when they hit our skin. Lake Superior was gray. Several freighters passed by us today, one very close and tonight one lit up like a Christmas tree.
Apr 29: We had a low this morning of 40, a high of 42 around noon, and are now at 37 at 10pm. It rained most of the night and has rained most of the day. Not heavy, but steady. By later afternoon the rain had a feel that snow is not far away but so far it is still too warm. Lake Superior has just small waves from the SE.
Apr 28: It was supposed to be raining today but the rain didn't begin until after dark. Our low was 40 and our high was 43. Skies are cloudy at times and a gray overcast at others. Lake Superior is surprisingly calm with only 1ft gray waves by late afternoon from the SE.
Apr 27: We had a low of 29 and a high of 49 today. We woke with an inch of fresh snow from ovenight accumulated on the ground. Luckily, the asphalt was too warm for snow to accumulate and the fresh snow on the ground was gone by noon. Lake Superior was mostly calm with small grayish blue waves from the SE. Partly cloudy skies meant we had partly sunny skies as well.
Apr 26: Our low was 30 and our high was 46 today. It was surprisingly warm considering we saw very little sun today. Lake Superior was a dull blue and calm this morning. Waves picked up to 1ft from the SE by the later afternoon.
Apr 25: Our morning low was 32 and our high was a surprising 47 when the sun finally came our in the afternoon. I watched the sunrise this morning. As the sun came over the horizon it was under the overcast skies for a few minutes shining light in my eyes. But a few minute later it rose into the overcast skies not to be seen again until mid-afternoon. Lake Superior had 1ft waves from the SE today turning from a monotone gray to a bright blue with navy shadows when the sun came out.
Apr 24: There was a beautiful display of the Northern Lights last night. The peak was around 10pm. Today we have mixed skies with a little sun, partly cloudy, and white overcast from time to time. Our low was 26 and with the mostly overcast skies of the morning it looked like we were going to struggle to get into the 40's. However, bouts of sun in the afternoon has us currently at 45 with winds from the east. Lake Superior has 1ft blue waves and a textured surface from the SE.
Apr 23: We have blue skies this morning with just wisps of stringy white clouds in the air. Our low was 26. The air is still. The lake is still. There are small blue waves on a textured surface from the SE. We have a bank of bluish purple clouds across the lake on the horizon.
Apr 22: Our low was 26 and our high was 42 today. Lake Superior continued to subside through the day and had just 1-2ft waves from the SE by nightfall. The sun came out in the afternoon and its warmth helped to begin melting the snow from the blizzard 2 days ago.
Apr 21: The snow tapered off during the night. Temperatures did not even get below freezing during the night in Croftville. This morning at 9am we have 37 degrees and gray overcast skies but no snow or oce or rain coming down. Gitche Gumi has much reduced waves of 2-3ft waves coming now stright in from the SSE. The 2 distinct horizontal bands of runoff versus the main lake are not as distinct this morning after the mixing from the enormous waves of the last couple days. We gradually go from copper colored water near the shore to bluish gray water a half mile out.
Apr 20: And they are calling this a winter advisory today but here in Grand Marais this is a full blown blizzard. Snow has come down heavy most of the day and that coming down is more horizontal than vertical. The powerful winds from the east make visibility poor and limited. They have also generated enormous 6 feet plus waves from the ESE. Even with the limited visibility you can still see the line separating the brownish water from the runoff and the churned up bottom close to shore with the blusih green water and whitecaps further out. Our low was 32 this morning and our high was 37. We must have 7-8inches of fresh wet snow on the ground.
Apr 19: We are supposed to be in the midst of a winter storm watch today but until late in the afternoon all we have seen is colder temperatures and light freezing rain. Our high today was around midnight at abot 40 degrees and the temperatures have been slowly descending to the low 30's ever since. I am glad the reports of snow today have not come to pass. The rain has helped to melt some of the fresh snow from 2 days ago. Winds are really picking up from the east and the 4-5ft waves on Lake Superior continue to grow.
Apr 18: Our morning low was 25 and our high so far at 2pm is 46. We have light blue clear skies and sun. I saw 3 freighters from my window during the night all lit up. One was close to shore. The other 2 were so close together that it almost appeared as if they were traveling in tandem down Lake Superior on their way to Duluth. The lake has a highly textured surface but no discernable waves. It is a deep blue with navy shadows against a white lake horizon. And of course, everything is white again after what was probably 7 inches of snow coming down in Croftville yesterday.
Apr 17: You have got to be kidding me. A blizzard and heavy snow on Apr 16th. It is a day to hunker down and watch a movie. No school. A day not fit for man nor beast. We gegan the day with 33 degrees but it continues to drop slowly. Lake Superior is gray with 2-3ft waves for what you can see with the limited visibility. Winds are strong and powerful. Yet, there are signs of spring with the junkoes flying inside our covered porches looking like they were playing with the storm.
Apr 16: We have strong winds and steady rains this morning from the NNW. I can watch the gusts hit and then spread out over the gray lake lake surface. The winds are subduing the waves near the shore. Our low was 34 this morning so with temperatures staying above freezing and rain, the snow pack is disappearing quickly. Snow is in the forecast but it may just be too warm for that to happen.
Apr 15: We traveled to Duluth today. There was rain on and off throughout the day but it was heavy on the hill in Duluth by early afternoon. With overcast skies we did not get out of the 40's today. It was fun to stop and look at some of the rivers, streams with the runoff from melting snow. Even more intiguing are the little riverlets that show up only during spring runoff or after heavy summer rains. Lake Superior was a bluish gray today with the overcast skies.
Apr 14: We has a low of 42 and a high of 53 today in the early afternoon before temps began to go slowly down. The moon was what my called scary this morning as it was a orange crescent that rose above the horizon just a couple hours before the sun. Lake Superior had 1-2ft choppy waves from the SE. The runoff from Devils Track River and from other little creeks has now left Lake Superior with 2 bands, a copper brown band close to shore and a blusih green ban further out.
Apr 13: Our high today so far is 52 degrees after a low of 44 overnight. It has been a sunny afternoon. Lake Superior is blue with 2-3ft waves. I can see whitecaps further out. You can also see the long plume of brown water flowing out of Devil Track River and moving far out into the lake.
Apr 12: The big thaw continues today. After starting this morning at 37 with overcast skies we slowly warmed up into the mid 40's this afternoon before spiking to 58 briefly when the sun came out in the early evening. Lake Superior has light blue 1ft waves with navy shadows from the SSE.
Apr 11: Happy Birthday to my son (27) and my brother (59). This morning is gray overcast. The sun came out later in the afternoon yesterday and we jumped to 53 degrees. Our low overnight was an amazingly warm 41. I saw 2 freighters way out on the lake during the night and I saw some fishing net markers on the lake here in Croftville yesterday. Lake Superior has 1ft choppy gray waves from the south this morning.
Apr 10: We have 1ft gray waves with green shadows from the SSW on Lake Superior this afternoon. Skies are a white overcast but were clear blue this morning. The overcast is light enough to cast shadows. Temperatures rose to 50 before the overcast skies dropped us back into the upper 40's.
Apr 9: It just got below freezing this morning and quickly warmed up to 44 degrees before the sun was covered up with overcast skies in the early afternoon. Lake Superior has small pale blue waves from the SSE.
Apr 8: It was sunny. We had blue skies. We had a blue lake with 1-3ft waves. It is a beautiful spring day and the snow is melting. Our low was 22 and our high was 45.
Apr 7: Waves were only 3-4ft today and maybe only 2-3ft by late afternoon. The sun was out and warmed things up to 41 todat after starting the day at 21 degrees. Lake Superior was blue against a pale blue sky.
Apr 6: We had tremendous winds last night accompanied by tremendous waves that continued into today. We had 5-7ft waves from the south buffeting the shore today. Winds from the south last night came off the lake and snapped one of our mature aspens next to the inn. The morning low of 22 was cold enough to leave the remnant wet snow from yesterday rock hard. Our high of 36 later in the day was not enough to soften it.
Apr 5: The winds were fierce overnight and continue today. The waves are 4-5ft this morning but were over 6ft during the night. All of the logs and driftwood accumulating on our beach since last fall were swallowed up by the lake during the night and the beach is now stripped of wood and ice leaving the bare basalt rocks to absorb the waves energy as they pound the shore. Temperatures warmed during the night from the upper 20's to the low 30's this morning. Not more than a couple inches of fresh snow but the drifting is extensive.
Apr 4: After a high of 41 yesterday, we started at 23 this morning and maxed out at 28 just before the snow started falling about 4pm. Skies are a gray overcast. Lake Superior has 2ft monotone gray waves from the SE. The snow started quickly and heavy.
Apr 3: Our low was 33 overnight and we are at 36 degrees at 9am. Skies overhead are overcast. Skies over the lake are partly cloudy with a faint blue sky at the lake horizon. Kitche Gami has 2ft bluish gray waves from the south.
Apr 2: It was an overcast day with minimal amount of sun. However, there was no wind today which made it surprisingly pleasant outside until the snow started coming down heavy around 1pm. It took awhile, but eventually it did stick with about an inch of accumulation except on the pavement which never stuck. Snow ended about 5pm but a mist remained. Our low was 23 with a high of 40 and with 35 degrees at 8pm. Lake Superior had 1-2ft waves from the SE and we saw 2 additional freighters pass by again today.
Apr 1: There is a cold breeze from the east today. There are mostly blue skies with plenty of sun. We have seen 3 ore greighter passing by Croftville today on their way to Duluth. One was quite close and it was remarkable how quickly it passed by our field of view. The huge waves from yesterday churned up the lake bed leaving a band of brownish water close to shore. Further out the lake is a glistening aqua blue with still sizable 2-3ft waves from the SE
March 2023
Mar 31: It was 26 this morning and 40 this afternoon. Skies were hazy or overcast today. We were north of the bad weather and ended up with no precipitation as snow or rain. Lake Superior had growing waves from the SE beginning with 3ft and ending at 5ft waves from the SE in the later afternoon. There were lots of whitecaps and lots of wind today.
Mar 30: I can see a faint bank of clouds across Lake Superior today. Skies are mostly clear but with a little haze. Gitche Gami has 2ft steel gray waves from the south. We are back up to 26 at noon after a frigid overnight of 11 degrees. Yesterday we manages to squeek out 32 degrees for our high.
Mar 29: We had a very brief but heavy snow storm during the early evening hours yesterday. Accumulation was less than an inch, but it felt funny seeing a snowstorm after many days of thawing here in Croftville. We only got to 29 yesterday and were at a very cold 11 degrees for lat March this morning. Skies are clear and blue with a purplish tint. Lake Superior has 1ft blue waves with navy shadows from the south. There is a bank of clouds on the other side of the lake. I saw 2 freighters passing by in the middle of the night all lit up.
Mar 28: Ir was a cold 22 this morning with overcast gray skies. Lake Superior has 1-2ft grayish blue waves from the south. We are at 27 at 2pm and that temperature has been stable since mid-morning and likely will be our high for today. Without the sun and with only 27 degrees it is unlikely we will see any thawing taking place today.
Mar 27: Our high was 42 with blue skies, sun, and continued thawing of our snow cover. There are now select place without snow such a south facing steep embankments, basalt rocks on the shore, and selected areas with patches of now open grass. Most of Croftville still has an average of 18-24" of snow cover. And of course there are areas from drifting, protected areas from the sun, and piles from snow removal that are much deeper. Lake Superior has 1-2ft blue waves today.
Mar 26: It is a beautiful early spring day here in Croftville. There are clear blue skies and a white horizon across the lake. The big lake has 1ft blue waves from the south with green shadows. It is 41 degrees at 2pm after an overnight low of 29.
Mar 25: What a sight to watch the melted water stream off the rooves here at the resort. Our temperature range was from 23 to 44 degrees today. Combine that 44 degrees with sun and the snow was melting quickly. Lake Superior had 1-2ft waves from the south today.
Mar 24: The big lake was calm with a galss surface this morning. We could see a patch of ice sitting out about a half mile from shore with a pale blue color against the deep blue color of the lake. As the day progressed the lake had a rougher textured surface but still no noticable waves. There are clear skies and a warm sun. Our low was 21 and we are at 35 degrees at 1pm.
Mar 23: Our low was 25 and we warmed up to 41 this afternoon. The snow that was floating in the water yesterday got thrown up on the shore during the night and froze in a drift on the rocks. There was plenty of sun today and a lot of melting as we finished the snow shoveling from yesterday. Tonight we have the northern lights out in full force. They are large and bright, but more static than usual. I might try going out a little later to see if they have more movement. The wind was brisk from the west today.
Mar 22: We had a low of 31 and a high of 37 today. We got dumped on with this winter storm in Grand Marais. Overnight we got about 5" of heavy wet snow and today we got another 5" of wet heavy snow before it ended about 3pm. Lake Superior is cold enough that even with the energy of 3-4ft waves from the east, it could not absorb all that snow. The snow just floated up above the waves undulating up and down. Of course, this also happened to be the day my son and I donated blood at 8am. Not exactly the best timing for a day of back breaking snow shoveling. I hope this is one of winter's last gasps.
Mar 21: It was a cold day for spring. It was 18 this morning and our high is right now at 10pm with 28 degrees. There were strong winds today that would stop you from pushing a door open or pulled the door out of your hands. Lake Superior had 3-4ft steel gray waves from the SE. We traveled to Duluth today with snow flurries all the way down the shore. As we got ready to leave Duluth a winter storm struck with the winds from the east and the snow almost horizontal. We followed the storm up the shore and outpaced it around Silver Bay but it caught up to us in Grand Marais about a hour hour after we got home.
Mar 20: Our low was 17 and our high 33. Lake Superior calmed a bit today with 1-2ft grayish blue waves chnging to the SE today. Skies were a mix with some overcast, some clouds, and some sun throughout the day.
Mar 19: We woke up to powerful 3-4ft waves from the south this morning that grew into 4-5ft waves this afternoon. The waves were a metallic steel blue except near the shore where they turned into a translucent green. There were plenty of whitecaps and it was difficult to hear each other talk while walking on the road. There was a strong wind from the west. Our high was 37 and our low was 17.
Mar 18: Our high was 27 today after a low of 12 this morning. We had a little light snow during the night and high wind gusts. Winds continued today with 2-3ft gray waves from the SE. Skies were an ovecast gray.
Mar 17: Our low was 18 overnight but temps are not warming up very quickly. We are still at 20 degrees at 11am. The snow continued for part of the night. We ended up with about 2" total. The first inch was quite wet. The second inch fluffy. We have overcast light gray skies this morning. There are 1ft gray roller waves with a highly textured surface from the SE.
Mar 16: After a high of 41 yesterday we reached a high of 39 today. It rained lightly and drizzled most of the day. The rain turned to sleet in the late afternoon and then to snow near sunset. It began to finally accumulate around 8pm. The huge predicted winter storm never materialized here in Cook County. Lake Superior had 3ft waves from the SE pounding the shore, the winds were strong, but the snow never really came.
Mar 15: Beware of the Ides of March. It was 37 yesterday afternoon and thawing continues. Overnight we dropped back down to 23 but are already at 33 at 10am even with gray overcast skies. Kitche Gami has 2ft silver blue waves with navy shadows from the south today. It was a colorful sunset last night with pinks, oranges, and purples.
Mar 14: Happy Pi Day from the former math teacher in me. There is a bank of faint white clouds over Gitche Gumi. Elsewhere we have clear blue skies. The blue lake has a variety of textures on its surface with 6" to 1ft waves traveling in from the SSE. Temperatures plummeted to 8 degrees this morning after a high of 35 yesterday. Temps are warming up quickly again this morning.
Mar 13: We had a low of 12 this morning which is pretty cold along the shore in the middle of March. Skies have cleared and are a deep blue and the wind has ended. Lake Superior has 2-3ft blue roller waves with olive green shadows from the SE. There is a line of clouds across the lake over the horizon line.
Mar 12: It began snowing about 10pm last night. The wind was strong and the snow was almost horizontal as it came down. By morning we had about 2" on the ground and the snow continued on and off throughout the day. By the time it ended about 4pm we had 4" of light snow drifting around with the strong winds. Our son shoveled what need to be done but hope the winds subside during the night so we can complete shoveling out tomorrow. Lake Superior had 3-4ft waves from the SE buffeting the shore. Some ice sheets from futher out in the lake made their way to shore all broken up in an ice and water slurry. That ice was gradually being thrown up on the rocks. Our low was 16 and our high 28.
Mar 11: Our low this morning was 19 and overcast skies moved into our area overnight. There is a winter storm warning for today but here in Croftville we are on the northern edge of the storm. If we are lucky, the brunt of the storm will miss us. Lake Superior continues to have the powerful 3ft waves with whitecaps from the SE. The band of copper colored water close to the shore continues to grow as runoff water makes it way into the lake. Further out, Lake Superior has blue waves, whitecaps, and green shadows.
Mar 10: It was windy today and when the wind hit you from just the right direction it would chill you to the bone. We did manage to get to a high of 32 briefly today before skies cleared toward evening and the temperature began to plummet. The thawing continued today even though the sun mostly obscured by overcast skies and temperatures just got up to freezing. It is a testimony that spring is on its way with the sun now higher in the sky.
Mar 9: We had a low of 28 and a high of 37 today. I can hear the 2-3ft waves on Lake Superior bang the shore from our office. The thawing continues as the melting of the snow is quite noticable along the shore. The sun shining on the basalt has melted all the snow on the beach except for the drift of ice that has formed along the shore from ice being thrown onto the shore.
Mar 8: After a high of 40 yesterday we dropped to 28 overnight and are back at 35 degrees at 1pm. We have white overcast skies today. The overcast is light enough for the sun to cast a fuzzy shadow. We have 2-3ft grayish blue waves from the ESE today. There is a narrow band close to shore that has a brownish hue from sediment being churned up or run off into the lake from our thawing temperatures.
Mar 7: Our morning low was 26 and we have hit 32 before 10am this morning. It appears it will be another warm thawing day along the shore in Croftville today. Skies are a light blue, clear, and with a white horizon across the lake. The water is blue with olive green shadows on a textured surface with 6" waves from the SE.
Mar 6: It managed to get to 41 again today with mixed skies that blocked the sun for parts of the day. Lake Superior was mostly calm and a grayish blue. Our son saw a lynx crossing Croftville Road today. When the lynx saw him, he reversed directions and headed back into the woods between the resort and our neighbors.
Mar 5: Our low is 24 this morning with a beautiful orange sunrise in the east. Lake Superior is a pale blue with a rippled surface and small waves from the south. Our high today was 41 before overcast skies came in mid-afternoon and began cooling temps back down into the 30's.
Mar 4: The skies cleared up and the sun was out in full force today giving us a sense that spring may not be too far away. Our morning low was 17 and our high was an impressive 39 today. It was a good day to be outside enjoying a stroll on Croftville Road and the deep blue lake. The were a couple thin sheets of ice that drifted toward the shore today on a mostly calm Lake Superior.
Mar 3: We have white overcast skies today with a low of 21 and a high of 32 today. Without the direct sun it just didn't warm up very much. We have 1-2ft bluish gray waves from the SSE. Most of the ice floating in the lake yesterday has been thrown up on the rocks today creating a 2ft ice drift along the shore.
Mar 2: This is the first day of the winter that there is clearly ice visible on our little corner of Lake Superior. We have a gray lake with 1ft roller waves from the SE. Near the shore we have a broken ice slush undulating on the waves and a small ridge of ice pushed up on the rocks this afternoon. Our low was a cold 10 degrees this morning and we are now at 27 this afternoon with white overcast skies.
Mar 1: The temperature jumped to 41 degrees yesterday afternoon making the remaining snow to be shoveled into slush wherever exposed to the sun. This morning we have gray overcast skies with a morning low of 23. Lake Superior has 1-2ft bluish gray waves from the SE. It doesn't look like we well receive any of the snow Minnesota is getting Duluth and south. We are often our own weather system up here in the arrowhead.
February 2023
Feb 28: We had 24 this morning. The northen lights have been our the last 2 nights. Not the most remarkable displays I have seen but always fun to see. So far we are at 31 at 11am and should get into the mid 30's today with the clear blue skies and the sun. Lake Superior has 2ft metallic blue waves from the south. There is a white horizon and a blinding midday sun reflecting off the surface. As the waves break they are transluscent green near the shore.
Feb 27: It is 30 degrees with snow coming down at 1pm. We are expecting an accumulation of about 4 inches before it is over tonight. The snow began just before noon. Lake Superior has 3ft waves from the SE buffeting the shoreline. The blue skies from earlier this morning are now gone. Visibility on the lake is limited with the snow. It appears we have winds from the SE off the lake. Temps have been slowly climbing through the night and now through the day.
Feb 26: It was 5 degrees this morning. We have clear crisp blue skies and a crisp blue lake. There are small waves from the south. Little steam curliques are rising off the water which is usually not seen unless we are below zero. I can't ever remember seeing this at 5 above.
Feb 25: We had 5 degrees this morning and a high of 23 today at sunset. Lake Superior has 3ft waves from the SE churning up the water today. There are lots of clouds across and over the lake. We had some sun this morning after light snow during the night. Then overcast skies took over with more light snow this afternoon.
Feb 24: We traveled to Duluth today. It was interesting to watch the open water in Grand Marais change to a frozen over lake in Duluth. Our low this morning was 6 but most of the day we were in the upper teens. We had more snow fall overnight, maybe an inch or two.
Feb 23: I love how Lake Superior makes a liar out of me anytime I say something about her. I mentioned to my daughter yesterday that I have not yet seen any signs of ice formation on the lake here in Croftville that I could confirm. I pondered that maybe we won't see any since we are now in late February. So I get up this morning and I can see the way small shards of broken ice reflect off the sun on the lake surface and I can see areas of flat thin ice sheets floating out on a calm lake. It was 2 below here in Croftville this morning after a high of 18 yesterday. The sun is out warming things up a little but the air for now is still which makes being outside comfortable in spite of the temperatures.
Feb 22: As snow belts the southern two thirds of Minnesota, we have partly cloudy blue skies with fluffy cumulus clouds. There is a wickedly cold wind from the east with 18 degrees outside this afternoon after a morning low of 4 above. You can see the winter storm across the lake in northern Wisconsin. Lake Superior has 3ft bright blue waves from the ESE. Close to shore those waves have a narrow band of copper colored water.
Feb 21: The snow ended during the night. All together we had about 7" of fresh snow that we are shoveling out today. The wind really picked up during the night causing drifting and whistling windows. It has now subsided at noon. Our low this morning was 7 degrees and we have warmed up to 16 at noon. Lake Superior has 2ft roller waves from the SE with a dark blue textured surface. There are some thin cloud banks over the lake but we have clear deep sky blue skies overhead.
Feb 20: It dropped to 6 this morning and then rose into the mid 20's all day during the snow. The snow began about 9am and it is still snowing now. At times today it almost quite and at times it was coming down heavy. Altogether we have about 5" of fresh snow here by the lake so far. Snow is expected to quit by morning before another heavier snow storm brushes us in another couple days. Winds were big enough to push snow into our covered porches but not strong enough to drift.
Feb 19: We had a low of 16 this morning and a high of 36 this afternoon. The thawing and freezing cycles continue making surfaces icy and very slippery as new layers of water freezes over hte gravel. We had a mixture of skies today between clouds, cloudbanks, and sun. Lake Superior has 2ft blue gray waves from the south.
Feb 18: With a low of 13 last night we climbed to 34 this afternoon. Gitche Gami had 2-3ft molten gray waves today from the south. Skies were a mix today with times of sun, overcast, and bands of clouds.
Feb 17: It has been a cold and windy day today down by Lake Superior. The low this morning was 3 and our high is currently 24 degrees at 4pm. The big lake has 3ft grayish green waves with whitecaps from the south. There are some bands of clouds over the lake and we can see a little light breaking through but overhead we have gray overcast skies. The wind and humidity make it feel really cold.
Feb 16: We have steel gray (almost molten metal looking) waves from the SE. They are 2-3ft. At times the sun reflects off of this monotone gray surface. It was 10 degrees this morning and we got into the low 20's this afternoon. We have ice sheets eveywhere as the thawing and rain from the past days freeze.
Feb 15: Our high of 39 was at midnight. By morning the rain turned to snow and the snow ended an hour later with only about a half inch of accumulation. Temps have dropped all day long. Currently we are at 18 at 8pm. The wind was tremendous this morning from the NNW and the gusts hit the lake and spread out over the gray surface. Winds subsided in later afternoon leaving the lake with 1-2ft gray roller waves from the SE.
Feb 14: Happy 28th anniversary to my Teresa. The day we got married in Eugene, Oregon there was a major snow (quite unusual for Eugene). Today we had rain all afternoon and into the night (quite unusual for Grand Marais). Our low was 26 and all the thawing water from yesterday was an ice sheet this morning. Our high was 38 and the rain is really starting to shrink our snow cover down by the lake in Croftville. Lake Superior had 2ft smooth gray roller waves from the SSE. Skies were light overcast this morning but kept darkening during the day. I just heard some thunder outside.
Feb 13: The thaw continues leaving much of Croftville Road now with bare pavement which we haven't seen since November. Our low this morning was 29 and our high was 41. Lake Superior had 2ft blue waves from the south.
Feb 12: Our low was 29 and our high was 40. The day started with 3ft waves from the south buffeting the rocks. They were blue green and our skies had a light overcast to them. The overcast stayed all day with some sun and blue breaking out at times. Lake Superior calmed down in the afternoon with just 1ft blue waves on a highly textured surface.
Feb 11: Croftville had a high of 41 and a low of 25 today along Lake Superior. We had powerful 3-4ft bright blue waves with translucent green shadows pounding the rocks from the south. There was plenty of sun and there was plenty of thawing. 40 degrees and sun in mid-February is a powerful melting combination.
Feb 10: Our low was 15 and our high 30 today down by the lake in Croftville. The sun was bright and had the power to do some melting even though we did not get to 32. Lake Superior was a bright blue with a highly textured surface but little to no waves.
Feb 9: It was a thawing day with a low of 23 and a high of 41 early this afternoon. The sun felt warm when in still areas but the wind and humidity made it feel much colder out in the open. Lake Superior has 2ft blue waves from the south.
Feb 8: We have blue skies with high thin stratus clouds this morning. Across the lake there is a white band of white overcast sky above the horizon. Temperatures spiked yesterday afternoon to an amazing 45 degrees for a short time. Overnight we had a 23 degree low but we are already back to 32 degrees at 10am as the now higher in the sky sun warms the air. Lake Superior has 2-3ft grayish blue waves with navy shadows from the south.
Feb 7: We had a fresh blanket of 2" of snow fall during the night. Temperatures are static right at freezing with a low overnight of 32, a high this morning of 33, and the temperature at 11am of 32. Lake Superior has 2ft blue waves with a few whitecaps and dark green shadows from the south. Skies over the lake are partly cloudy with bands of dark bottomed cumulus clouds. Over the land we have clear deep blue skies anf lots of sun. I guess it is time to go shovel snow.
Feb 6: We woke up to a chilly 6 degrees this morning but temps rose through most of the day reaching 32 in early-afternoon and it is still 32 at 11pm. Skies were a white overcast today. Lake Superior had bluish green 1ft waves from the SE. The thawing temperature in the afternoon made my walk most enjoyable.
Feb 5: I woke up to 14 degrees this morning. We are currently at 21 degrees at 2pm. We have 6" silver gray rolloer waves from the SE this afternoon. Skies are cloudy with places that the sun can almost break through. The horizon is a navy blue across the lake.
Feb 4: We had a 1-2 inches of lake effect snow overnight as the winds howled ferociously from the south. This resulted in lots of drifting. Many places had no snow, other plcaces had drifted in with 6" of snow. These winds also generated 4-5ft waves on Lake Superior from the south ovenight. By late afternoon today the winds and the waves had subsided with only 1-2ft waves from the south. Our low today was at midnight arount 10 degrees and our high was 25 in the afternoon.
Feb 3: It was the coldest night of the winter last night. It was a remarkable 15 below zero here next to the unfrozen Lake Superior. That is amazingly cold next to an open body of water. It was likely 30 below or colder just a little ways inland. Lake Superior was in a steanm bath as water vapor rose off the lake everywhere. We had 1-2ft blue waves from the SSE. As the day moved along the temperatures kept rising. By noon we were just 3 below. By 9pm we are now at 9 above. There might even be a thaw tomorrow or Sunday.
Feb 2: It warmed up to 14 yesterday afternoon and it was a realtively warm morning low at 7 degrees when I got up. It even appeared that the large cloudmass over the lake was showing signs of dissipating. However, in spite of the blue skies and lots of sun, the cold weather system moving our way has overcome that solar power. Temps have been slowly dropping all day. We are now at 2 degrees by the lake at 4pm. It is supposed to be a cold night. By noon, the steam mini-twisters were rising off Lake Superior's surface again.
Feb 1: The cold continued this morning with a 3 below low. Lake Superior was a pale blue with 1-2ft waves from the south. The dark cloudmass over the lake continues to site over the middle of the big lake as the steam curliques continue to feed it. This afternoon skies became overcast and the temperature rose to 15
January 2023
Jan 31: We have crisp blue skies this morning everywhere except over the middle of the lake. The dark cloud mass there continues to grow as the steam off the lake rises in those characteristic steam twisters we see when we are below zero. And we are below zero with 3 below this morning. Lake Superior has bright blue 2-3ft waves from the south. The crests of the waves are sort of yellow probably from the rising sun. The air is still. There is a large amount of steam along the shore as the warm water crashes on the ice cold rocks.
Jan 30: There was a low of 9 below this morning and an afternoon high of 9 above. It is wisckedly cold. Lake Superior had the dark cloud mass hovering over its middle with curliques of steam rising from the surface and accumulating into that dark cloud. There was no visible ice today because of the water motion. We had 2-3ft waves on a dark blue surface. Ecept over the lake, we had mostly clear blue skies.
>br> Jan 29: It was 6 below down on the shore in Croftvile today. It is bitterly cold and unlikely to climb beyond the single digits today. Back are the little steam whirlwinds rising off of the warm lake surface and accumulating into a dark cloud mass above the lake. There is pleanty of sun except directly over the lake. We have 1-2ft deep blue waves.
Jan 28: It was 2 below this morning. This was our first below zero temperature since December. The high was 14. There were a few signs of ice shards on the calm lake this morning. The lake was smooth and pale blue. Patches of deep blue looked like a thin ice sheet and rough textured areas may have been broken up ice. However, most of the lake here in Croftville showed no signs of ice. It is still too early and it has not been cold enough.
Jan 27: It only dropped to 19 this morning and we had a high of 24 in late morning. Ater that we began a slow decline downward with 10 degrees at 11pm. We had another bout of snow beginning overnight and ending around noon. We got another 2-3" of fresh snow which meant another day of shoveling for our son. Lake Superior was a grayish green during the snow. With the skies turning blue around noon, so did the lake. Lake Superior had large 3ft waves from the south today. I could hear the boulders being scraped across the ledgerock by the strength of the waves.
Jan 26: It was 5 this morning and we saw a high of 23 this afternoon. We had partly sunny skies today that became clear and blue in the afternoon except for a large brownish gray band of clouds across the lake. Gitche Gumi had 1-2ft blue waves with transluscent green shadows from the SSE. The snow was done and our son was busy shoveling out from what ended up being about 4" of fresh light snow blanketing everything.
Jan 25: Snow started coming down during the night and snowed lightly all day today. All togehter we ended up with about 3" of light fluffy snow. The high was at midnight with 27 degrees and the temp has been slowly going down all day. At 10pm we are at 15 degrees. Skies were a white overcast. Lake Superior had 2ft grayish blue waves from the south.
Jan 24: There are dark navy skies across the lake. There must be some snowy weather down in the UP and northern Wisconsin. Here we had overcast skies. Lake Superior again had 3ft waves but they were greenish gray and changed direction from the south. Our high was 28 and our low 23.
Jan 23: Overcast and cloudy covered skies returned today. We had 3ft bluish gray waves with dark green shadows again from the SE. The low was 23 and the high was 30.
Jan 22: Lake Superior had large 3ft blue waves from the SE today. Our high was 31 and our low was 23. I am surprised it was not warmer out because the sun came out and it felt so warm on our faces. The direct sunlight also contributed to a quicker melting even without the higher temps. It was a great day to spend some time outside. Jan 21: No sign of sun today with light gray solidly ovecast skies everywhere. Lake Superior has 2ft grennish gray waves with green shadows from the south. Our low was 21 this morning and we are at 26 at noon. The air is calm.
Jan 20: Our morning low was 9 and our high this afternoon was 27. This was our first pretty typical January day maybe for all of January. The sun tried to come out but was never quite able to completely burn off the overcast in the skies today. Lake Superior has 2ft blue waves from the SE.
Jan 19: Happy golden birthday to my youngest. We have darker overcast and cloudy skies today. I woke up to 26, our high was 28, and we are back to 26 at nightfall. The big lake has 2 bands of water. The band closer to shore looks like chocolate milk from the churning up of the waves and the runoff from our recent thaw. The band further out is blue gray. We have large 4ft waves hitting the shore from the SE. If I sit still I can sense their vibrations in the inn.
Jan 18: After a high of 37 yesterday morning temps began dropping throughout the day hitting freezing around 4pm and dropping to 24 this morning before rebounding to 29 this afternoon. I saw a small freighter heading toward Thunder Bay this morning even though the loack closed last weekend. It looked loaded and was close to shore a mile or two. Lake Superior has 1ft gray waves from the SSE with overcast skies. Didn't get top see the sun today.
Jan 17: Today we have 2ft grayish green roller waves from the SE. The hue turns to more of a blue further out near the horizon. There are some dark clouds and skies across the lake in the UP. Skies generally are overcast and cloudy with varying colors. Our low was 33 and our high so far is 36. We had light amounts of freezing rain, snow, and rain yesterday and there is the possibility of some more of the same today.
Jan 16: We have woke up from another night with temperatures staying above or at the freezing mark. Our low was 32 here in Croftville and we are currently at 34 degrees. We have a heavy gray overcast this morning. Lake Superior has 2ft dark bluish gray waves with dark green shadows from the SE.
Jan 15: Our low was 32 and our high was 38 today here along Lake Superior. Skies are overcast so in spite of the warm temperatures, the amount of melting was minimal but we could see puddles on the roadways. Lake Superior was a bluish gray with 1-2ft waves from the SE with dark green shadows.
Jan 14: It warmed up overnight and we woke up to 26 this morning. Our thaw has returned and we had a high of 34 today. We traveled to Duluth for shopping and visited family staying outside Two Harbors on our way back. Lake Superior was a pale blue with light overcast in the skies. The place they were staying was about 2 miles inland with a high panaramic view of Lake Superior similar to the view from Pincushion Mountain.
Jan 13: Skies today are a light gray overcast except to the southern lake horizon which are dark navy and almost black. Doen't look like pleasant weather down in northern Wisconsin. We have a gentle wind and 19 degrees at noon after a morning low of 14 here by Lake Superior. The lake reflects the gray skies and has small waves coming straight in from the SSE.
Jan 12: We have 1ft brownish blue roller waves from the SE here at noon. Skies are heavily clouded and there is a light wind. We woke up to 35 degrees this morning and have been watching temps slowly drop through the morning with the temperature now 31 at noon. Could these dropping temperatures be a sign of a break in our mild temperatures and mid-January thaw? Time will tell.
Jan 11: We are in a genuine mid-winter thaw today by the shore. We woke up to 28 degrees this morning and rose to 38 without the sun ever coming out today. The day started with 3ft blue gray waves from the SE but they quickly settled down to 1-2ft waves for the rest of the day. We had about a half inch accumulation of snow/ frozen mist during the night which was just enough to shovel away on the walks this morning.
Jan 10: If is recall we are in the heart of winter. There is a lot of snow on the ground. And yet, it just hasn't been that cold. Last night, with the overcast skies we barely dropped below freezing after being near 32 all afternoon yesterday. This morning we woke up to a low of 31 degrees here near the lake. Winds have picked up during the night. We have 3ft waves from the SE. There are two bands, there is a copper colored band for about the first 100 yards from the shore and the rest of the lake is blue green with green shadows and whitecaps.
Jan 9: Skies have turned to a gray overcast during the night. Across the lake there is a dark navy band of clouds suggesting poorer weather in the UP. Lake Superior has 2-3ft smooth roller waves from the south. The surface is a dark gray. Temps stayed fairly warm overnight next to the lake with 21 degrees this morning.
Jan 8: It stayed surprisingly warm overnight at 24 degrees in spite of clear skies. It was a beautiful January day with sun and 33 degrees for the high. Lake Superior had 3ft deep blue waves from the SE that would break and then pound into the shore.
Jan 7: Our morning low was 10 and our high 33 today. Lake Superior had 1-2ft waves from the SSE.
Jan 6: It is a beautiful January day with blue skies over the land and small bands of clouds in some places over the lake. Lake Superior has 1ft steel blue waves on a highly textured surface from the south. The air is still. Overnight the stars and full moon were out lighting up the snow and lake. We started the day at 1 degrees but with the sun we are at 30 degrees at 2pm. Great day to be outside hiking or skiing the trails.
Jan 5: We had a morning low of 12 and an afternoon high of 19 today. Lake Superior had 3ft gray roller waves from the SE. It felt colder than it was with a high humidity and skies began to clear in the afternoon. Debris on the shore was evedent after the huge waves from yesterday.
Jan 4: It was a booming Lake Superior today with 3-5ft waves from the SE pounding the shores. Lake Superior had 2 horizontal bands. The first was the first 100 yards from shore and looked like liquid copper. The second was a almost flourescent aqua blue color. On the south side of the lake were massive navy and black clouds and I was thankful I was not in that winter storm that we droves out of yesterday that never made it this far north and was now dumping snow from the Twin Cities to Two Harbors. Our high was 29 and our low was 24.
Jan 3: We stayed overnight at my Mom's in Prior Lake last night. The storm never arrived. We decided to wait until after the morning rush hour before venturing out and then the storm hit about 9am. Temperatures were in the mid to upper 20's but the storm started with freezing rain, ice, and snow. Travel through the cities was treacherous and ice and snow kept building up on the roads and our windshield wipers. North of the cities conditions improved with drifting and falling snow accumulating on mostly dry pavement and the vehicles blowing the snow out of the driving lanes. Things worsened for a time around Pine City then improved by Sandstone. Finally, around Sturgeon Lake we drove past the storm and had dry pavement the rest of the way to Grand Marais. Temperatures stayed beyween 25 and 29 for our entire trip.
Jan 2: The low was 16 this morning and our high was 34 today. We traveled to Saint Paul today to beat the predicted winter storm in the Twin Cities and drop our daughter back to college. Travel was good and this big winter storm was slower moving than expected. Skies were a thick white overcast today. The sun found a hole to peak through for about 3 miles on Highway 61 near Little Marais. Lake Superior was a monochrome blue gray with small waves. We saw several ore freighters on our trip down the North Shore.
Jan 1: As morning neared I could see the moon setting in the SW and backlighting the sky near Grand Marais. Our low overnight was 32 and as the day progressed we eventually got to 36 degrees. We had some shoveling of 2" of wet snow this morning and the thawing temperatures melted much of the remaining snow and oce off the pavement and sidewalks. Lake Superior had 2ft blue green waves from the south breaking into the shoreline rocks. The air was still and humid today.