Four Season Cottages and Vacation Suites
On the Shore of Lake Superior
Grand Marais, Minnesota
December 2025
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November 2025
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October 2025
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September 2025
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August 2025
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July 2025
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June 2025
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May 2025
May 20: We have powerful waves from the SE today fueled by a strong wind also from the SE. Waves are 3-5ft. They are a steel gray with whitecaps dotting the surface. Up close they are more of a copper color with the large waves churning up sediment on the lake bed. Our morning low was 39 and our afternoon high was 49. Combined with the wind, it is a cold day out by Lake Superior. Skies are a light gray overcast.
May 19: It is a cold morning with 33 degrees but the skies are blue with thin clouds and plenty of sun. We expect the day to warm up nicely. Lake Superior is a steel blue with 2-3ft waves from the SE with dark green shadows near the shore. The lake horizon is crisp and white with thin white clouds hovering above it. We have a brisk wind from the SE. Trees are leafing our rapidly now. The quaking aspen now have that light spring green color as you look at them on the Sawtooth Mountains.
May 18: Temps have continued to go down overnight and we are now at 39 degrees here next to the lake at 3pm with light snow coming down. May 18 and snow! Lake Superior has 1-2ft gray waves from the SE with greenish shadows. There is a crisp horizon line and light gray overcast skies.
May 17: Happy Sytennde Mai. We reached a high of 60 yesterday and temps have been very slowly falling all through the night and today. At 2pm we are at 60 degrees which is our low for the day. Temps are expected to continue to drop and we might have a killing frost and even maybe snow tonight. Wow. I am glad we have not yet bought our summer flowers for the resort. Skies are a gray overcast that have been teasing us with possible rain all day but all we have got are small bouts of rain not strong enough to entirely wet the pavement. Lake Superior is a dark gray with a purple tint on a highly textured surface but no real discernable wave direction. We have strong winds and we can watch the gusts spread out over the lake.
May 16: We had a low of 45 and so far we are up to 54 at 3pm. Skies are light gray overcast and hazy. Lake Superior has 1-2ft almost white waves from the SSE with pale green shadows. The lake is against a fuzzy white horizon. We have had light rain on and off all day. It feels like the skies should open up with a downpour but that just hasn't happened. There is a lot of humidity in the air.
May 15: It was a gorgeous day today with a low of 46 and a high of 65. Lots of sun overhead with blue skies at times but with fog rolling in and out from Lake Superior. We also had 2 storm fronts pass through that dumped heavy rain for short periods of time. The first came through around 9:30am and lasted about 20 minutes. The second came through around 7pm and lasted around 40 minutes. With the fog we saw very little of Lake Superior today except for a hundred yards or fewer from the shore.
May 14: Our high yesterday was 75 and although we began the day at 50 this morning we were a little cooler overall with a high of 65. Lake Superior was foggy pretty much all day. We could watch the fog move in onto the shore and then watch it move out receding back away from the shore. Skies were clear overhead. Lake Superior had 1ft waves from the SE but much of the day we couldn't see them, only hear them.
May 13: It looks like a repeat of yesterday except the blue skies are a little darker today with a small bit of haze from wildfires in Canada. We also have 3 wildfires in northern Minnesota fueled by the high winds from yesterday. No wildfires in Cook County so far. Lake Superior is blue with 1ft waves from the SE, navy shadows, and a highly textured surface. The lake horizon is a fuzzy white. The low this morning was 46 once again. It should be a beautiful day to spend outdoors today.
May 12: We had a morning low of 46 and a early evening high of 69. Temps by the lake stayed cool while it was in the 80's inland and up the Gunflint Trail. Lake Superior had 1ft blue waves from the SE with navy shadows and white highlights. Our lake horizon was a fuzzy white and the skies overhead were a clear light blue. High winds created dangerous fire conditions inland but we were sheltered from those winds here by the big lake.
May 11: Our high peaked at 59 yesterday and our low this morning is 43. Lake Superior has 1ft bluish gray waves from the SE with silver highlights. The skies are covered with light clouds with a little sun making its way through the thin cloud cover.
May 10: What a strange temperature day yesterday. The temp continued to rise during the evening hours. At 9pm I went out for a walk and it was 63. And the high for the day around midnight with 75 degrees before temps finally started to drop. Our low this morning is 47. Skies are clear blue with a little haze. The lake horizon has a crisp thin line of navy and then it is white. Lake Superior is a pale blue with small waves or large ripples from the SE.
May 9: It was a beautiful but cool day in Croftville next to Lake Superior. We had frost on the roofs and 31 degrees. It stayed cool most of the day and didn't finally reach 50 until 4pm. Our high for today is right now at 5pm with 58. There is no lake horizon today. Skies overhead are sunny but a little hazy. Lake Superior has 1ft blue waves from the south with navy shadows and silver highlights.
May 8: It was a chilly morning back in Croftville. It was 34 and frost on all the roofs. Lake Superior is a deep blue with 1-2ft waves from the SE with blinding silver reflections and green shadows. It is against a crisp white horizon line that turns to pale blue as you gaze upwards with thin stringy white clouds in the sky. There is a gentle breeze which combined with the cold temps makes it hard to be comfortable outside on this gorgeous day unless you are working. Still only 41 degrees at noon.
May 7: It was definitely cooler this morning in Dundas. It was right around 60 degrees and a powerful wind from the north. We said our goodbyes to head north with a stop at Hamline to have lunch with Rosie. Even in Saint Paul it was only 64 at 1pm. As we headed north we watched as fewer and fewr species of trees were leafed out. Driving over Thompson hill we got our first glimpse of Lake Superior in 3 days. It was exceptionally clear and the entire Saint Louis River, Lake Superior head, Duluth and Superior were laid out before us. We could see the brown runoff water from the Saint Louis push far out into the blue water of Lake Superior. I sighed a breath of relief to be back near this great lake. As we headed up the North Shore we watched as our temperature continued to drop from 42 in Duluth to 38 in Two Harbors to 36 in Grand Marais. It was good to be home.
May 6: It was another warm day in Dundas and Faribault as the high was in the low 80's. There is less field work done than I would have estimated for May 6. Perhaps a third of the fields I saw were planted. Farmers are now reluctant to plant a field before the soil temperature is warm enough to give the plants a good start.
May 5: Croftville had clear blue skies with a deep blue lake with 2ft waves from the SE with navy shadows and white crests. It was cold with 40 degrees. We headed to southern Minnesota today. By the time we got to Duluth at 1pm it was still only 50 degrees by Lake Superior. As soon as we went over Thompson Hill the temp spiked into the 70's. By the time we got to Esko it was 79 and hovered between 79 and 82 degrees the rest of the day. The aspens finally leafed out in Sandstone. The maples and oaks began to leaf out in the twin cities. It was hot sitting on my mom's deck watching and listening to the trains pass through Dundas while the wind sonded her wind chime.
May 4: There was frost on the roofs and 37 degrees this morning. We had a cold wind which stayed around all day even though the temps rose to 57 this afternoon. Lake Superior is a deep blue with navy shadows and white highlights with 2-3ft waves from the SE. We had a crisp white horizon line which transitioned to clear blue skies above all day. The pussy willows are just about done with their fur and we should see them begin to leaf out soon.
May 3: We had a chilly 37 this morning and a late afternoon high of 54. Although it was sunny all day, temps remained cool in the low 40's until late in the day. The rain from the past couple weeks is starting to green up lawns. We see lots of deer grazing in the road ditches looking for the early greens. There was an amazing fog out on the lake that made the horizon invisible. That fog finally receded and dissipated in the early afternoon. Lake Superior had 2ft blue waves from the SE. The gooseberries are just starting to leaf out.
May 2: Our low this morning is 40 degrees. We had light rain all night and that rain is continuing. Lake Superior is a medium gray with 1-2ft roller waves from the SE and brown shadows near the shore. The sky is a lighter gray but with a crisp lake horizon. Our air is still.
May 1: We brought May in with a low of 35 and a high of 50. The 35 was probably close to midnight when we had some snow flurries. By morning it was already 40 and light rain that continued pretty much all day. Skies were a gray overcast. Lake Superior had 1-2ft monochrome gray waves from the SE with a fuzzy horizon line.
April 2025
Apr 30: We had a heavy frost this morning with 28 degrees. The air is still. There is a crisp white lake horizon that turns into light clouds and a pale blue sky over the lake. Overhead we have clear blue skies and lots of sun. Lake Superior a thin band of green translucent waves near the shore. The rest of the lake is a deep blue with 2ft textured waves from the SE and navy blue shadows.
Apr 29: It was cold this morning with 34 degrees but we rebounded to 52 this afternoon. Skies cleared by late morning and were clear blue the rest of the day. Lake Superior was a deep blue with small waves against a crisp white horizon line. The rain from yesterday pretty much wiped out almost all of our remaining snow cover. I guest the time for picking up limbs and raking the lawns has begun.
Apr 28: We had a couple bouts of light rain yesterday and we have light rain again this morning. Heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected this afternoon. Our morning low is 42. Skies are a dark gray. The lake horizon is a fuzzy light gray. Lake Superior has 1-2ft gray waves from the SE with dark green shadows.
Apr 27: We have another calm morning on Kitche Kami. The lake is light blue with just ripples on its surface. Skies are now a gray overcast and a bit darker towards the west. The horizon line is fuzzy. Our low was 36. The air is still and it feels like rain. I watched a loon meandering and fishing on the big lake this morning. It is always fun to try to guess where he/she will come up from their latest dive. Although loons tend to not live on Superior, the inland lakes they make their summer homes here are still frozen so many wait it out on the big lake.
Apr 26: With a low of 37 I was surprised to see some frost on the cottage roofs this morning. However, the rising sun quickly dispensed with the frost. It was a sunny day with a dark blue lake with just small waves. Our high reached to a pleasant springtime high of 57. It was a good day to spend outdoors.
Apr 25: Lake Superior was completely calm, glass, and with an invisible horizon when we got home. I was looking forward to the the sounds of the lake but a quiet night sleep was good instead. Today, we woke up to 30 degrees and warmed up to 45 this afternoon. We had blue skies, a blue lake, and a white crisp lake horizon. There were 1ft waves from the SE. It was a lazy day unpacking and getting back into the rhythm of running a resort after our 8 day excursion to Boston.
Apr 24: We explored the Canadian Sault Locks this morning. The 2 American Soo Locks opened last month but the lock on the Canadian still had ice in it. We walked out across the lock and on the islands in the Saint Maries River. Between the two islands there was a small channel of the river that had 5 beaver dams with ponds in it. Evidence of the beaver activity on the banks was everywhere. Joey estimated a drop of about 25ft in the locks. The beaver broke that drop up with their 5 dams and ponds. We headed north out of Sault Sainte Marie and it became foggy. All of a sudden we were close enough to Lake Superior to see her shore through the fog. Some spots were open water. Other spots were still frozen. IT felt so good to see Gitche Gumee after 7 days. By the time we stopped for lunch in Marathon, the fog had begun to lift enough to see almost to the horizon on the big lake. This road from Sault Sainte Marie to Thunder Bay was amazing. The rock formations and the variation in rock color were spectacular. It would be so fun to do this ride again when the "closed for season" signs are gone and the sun was out. It took us less time than we thought and instead of spending one more night in Ontario we got home before dark and got to spend some time with our inn sitter and let our cat warm back up to us. I sure missed my bed. It was cold today with temps along Lake Superior ranging from the upper 30's to the low 40's.
Apr 23: We left Casselburg this morning and headed for Sault Sainte Marie. Along the way we enjoyed many glimpses of Lake Huron. Not quite my Lake Superior but beautiful nevertheless. Temps today hovered in the 40's and 50's. We tried to find someplace to eat for 3 hours but this part of 17 was not well traveled this time of the year and so many of the hotels, gas stations, and restaurants were closed for the season.
Apr 22: We woke up to light rain and temps in the 50's and 60's today in Boston. After check-out we went to the Boston Harbor to enjoy the Atlantic even though it was overcast. The ocean was salty and Joey could see the water running out from Pleasant Bay through the throughway as low tide approached. We then turned north enjoying the mountains in New Hampshire and Vermont and the Lake Champlain islands before heading into Canada. Many of the rock formations in New Hampshire and Vermont reminded me of driving along the North Shore. We drove through the beautiful city of Montreal and over two magnificent modern suspension bridges before ending up just outside of Ottawa in Casselburg.
Apr 21: The running of the 129th Boston Marathon was almost perfect conditions with the temps beginning in the mid 40's and ending in the upper 50's. Skies were sunny and there was a brisk wind from the south. Joey did not meet his aggressive goal of 2:44:00 but he did get 2:51:17 on a very aggressive course and was happy with the results. We watched him from mile 23 and he looked great even though he was a little behind his most aggressive goal. Joey, Teresa, Greg, Julie, Dalton. Dallas, Navy, Tristan, and I celebrated with pizza and beer in our hotel room. Greg bought the beer that Quint was drinking in Jaws.
Apr 20: We arrived in Boston this morning at the Hymes Convention Center for Joey to pick up his marathon packet. It is amazing to see how the large highways travel mostly under the business district with only the local streets on the surface level. It was amazing to get a glimpse of the 31,000 runners plus friends and family touring around the finish area. Joey got his needed Green Line train passes and we set out to travel the marathon route by car until we could check-in at the hotel. We got checked in, got Joey all pasta-ed up at an Italian restaurant. Our temps today were from the 50's to the 70's.
Apr 19: We had some on and off rain today as we left Erie and took the more southern route across New York State on Interstates 86 and 88 before rejoining 90 in Albany and heading into Massachusetts. Some of the rain heading through the mountains was almost hard enough to get me to pull over. The scenery through southern New York was stunning and it felt good to get off the toll roads for a while. Traveling in Massachusetts there are places that reminded me of traveling on the North Shore with dark rock outcroppings and stands of white pines and cedars. It was hot with temps in the upper 80's most of the day. We stopped for the night in Old Sturbridge where an Indian family had purchased in 2024 an EconoLodge Motel that had its office and living quarters in a big historic house. They are slowly fixing things up. I hope they are up to the task.
Apr 18: We are away from Lake Superior for almost a week but today we got small glimpses of Lake Michigan in Chicago and Lake Erie in Cleveland. We left Tomah with some rain but it had ended before we entered Illinois. The traffic through Chicago was stop and go on Interstate 90 in spite of it being in the middle of the day. We battled toll roads which I had not been on since 1989. Wow, the technology for these has really changed. We stopped outside Erie, Pennsylvania for the night. Temps were in the 60's and 70's as we were traveling.
Apr 17: We peaked at 47 yesterday and today we are at 44 at noon today. Lake Superior has 2ft waves from the SE. There is a copper colored band close in and a blue green band further out. We have blinding silver highlights from the sun in the clear sky. The horizon is a fuzzy white and they say rain is on the way but I don't see any indications yet. Teresa described the lake as rough, wavy, and cold with big dumb ducks. We headed out this afternoon to take Joey to Boston for the Boston Marathon on Monday. We got as far as Tomah, Wisconsin in a torrential thunderstorm that dropped rain in sheets at times.
Apr 16: Ships kept going by all night, I saw at least 3 although only one was close in. The waning but still nearly full moon lit up the lake and the ground. They say the northern lights were out but I didn't even bother to look with the moon being so bright. This morning we had frost on the roofs with a 29 degree low. We have mostly sunny skies with a little cloud cover. Temps are warming up slowly with still only 39 degrees at noon. Lake Superior has 1ft blue waves with navy shadows from the SSE.
Apr 15: What an amazing wind coming off the hill this morning and pummeling the lake with its gusts as it hit the surface making the lake cringe. Lake Superior was blue, textured, and subdued near the shore by the wind. Further out we could see huge waves. This afternoon we had an ore freighter pass by certainly less than 2 miles from the shore. It dominated the lake view and you could see the bow breaking waves and the wake in the stern. Being so close, it passed by our field of vision quickly. The low was 30, the high was 39. We had a brief spell of sleet in the afternoon but the rest of the day was dry with clouds and a little sun.
Apr 14: We watched an ore freighter passing by the resort today on its way toward Duluth. Lake Superior has 2-3ft blue green roller waves from the south. Skies have been gray overcast all day with rain and a few snow flurries for most of the afternoon. Our temp was 42 when I got up but has slowly dropped all day. We are currently at 38 at 6pm.
Apr 13: Yesterday afternoon was our first spring rain of the season. We have had rain at other times but it was always mixed with snow or ice. This was just a gentle rain. And this afternoon is a repeat of yesterday's rain. Noy much temperature variation today with a morning low of 39 and our afternoon high of 43 by the lake. Skies are a gray overcast. Lake Superior has 2ft blue waves from the SE. With these 2 rains, the only snow remaining is from drifts, snow removal, or the north sides of buildings and trees.
Apr 12: After a late afternoon high of 52 yesterday we dropped to 33 overnight. We watched the amazing almost full moon last night light up the clear skies dwarfing the brightness of the stars and planets in the night sky. However, today we have gray overcast skies. Lake Superior is a pale blue gray against a fuzzy horizon. It's surface is smooth with only ripples.
Apr 11: There was a heavy frost on most surfaces this morning with a low of 31 degrees. Temps are quickly rising and we are already to 41 at 8am. We have clear blue skies and a white crisp lake horizon. Lake Superior is a dark blue with 1ft waves on a highly textured surface from the south. The air is still. It looks like it will be a great day to spend outdoors while celebrating our son's birthday. Happy Birthday Joey.
Apr 10: We had a morning low of 30 degrees and with a surprising spike in late afternoon temps we rose to 48 briefly. Skies were mixed today with lots of clouds and a little sun. Lake Superior was blue and mostly calm. We watched 2 ore freighters pass by during the night all lit up.
Apr 9: We had a dusting of snow overnight but saw no snow today. Guests traveling up the North Shore said they had light snow and flurries the whole way until they arrived in Grand Marais. Our low was 30 and our high 42 today. Skies are hazy with a hazy lake horizon. Lake Superior has 1-2ft light blue waves with olive green shadows from the SE.
Apr 8: We have 1ft gray textured waves from the SSE this afternoon. Skies are mixed with some clouds, some sun, and some overcast. Most of the land is overcast and we can see some sun and clouds over Lake Superior. It was a cold 19 degrees this morning and we peaked out this afternoon with 37 degrees.
Apr 7: Somehow on this cold spring day it managed to get to 40 degrees. The low this morning was 20 and it was only 30 degrees at noon. I guess the sun finally won out with clear blue skies all day over the land while it was cloud covered over the lake. Lake Superior had 1-2ft light blue waves from the SE.
Apr 6: We had some thawing continue today but we lacked the sun and temps to melt much snow. Our low this morning was 27 and our high 39. Skies were overcast but I could see clear skies across the lake in the UP. Lake Superior has 1-2ft blue waves with a textured surface from the SE.
Apr 5: Our low was 34 and our high 42 today. We started with clear blue skies but had partly cloudy skies this afternoon with large white cumulus clouds in the sky. There was a cool breeze off the lake. The lake was blue and almost calm with ripples coming all the way from the oblique angle of the SW.
Apr 4: We had lots of snow melting in spite of cloudy skies and a lack of direct sun. Our low was 29 and our high was 44. Lake Superior had 1ft blue gray waves from the SSE against a white horizon line.
Apr 3: It is hard to tell how many inches of snow we got yesterday because it was so wet and lots of drifting. However, there was at least 8-9 inches of compacted snow on the ground. I bet we got 11-13" down here along the lake. After watching the snow come down almost horizontal with the wind towards the lake, I am surprised we had no trees down with the way they were whipping in the blizzard force winds yesterday afternoon. Waves were pushed to 5-6 feet hitting our shore. Today we have 1-2ft blue gray waves from the south with cloud covered skies and almost no breeze. Our low overnight was 31 and we have been climbing all day. We are currently at 43 degrees at 5pm. We spent all morning battling the wet, heavy, clumping snow. Now that warmer temps are battling this snow for us. This was an impressve spring blizzard.
Apr 2: The snow arrived much later than predicted at about 4am. By morning we just had a dusting but the snow picked up with daylight. At noon, we have strong winds and moderate fine snow coming down. Total accumulation so far is only an inch. It was a 30 degree low overnight and it is 32 at noon. Lake Superior has 3-4ft waves from the SE. Close to shore they are green. Further out they are blue. You can't see the horizon for the snow.
Apr 1: It reached 45 yesterday and helped to melt much of our last heavy snowfall just in time for the next blast scheduled to begin later tonight. This storm is expected to lay 12" plus of wet snow here along the North Shore. Today was another nice day but the sun disappeared shortly after sunrise and the clouds became thicker and grayer throughout the day. Our low this morning was 30 degrees and our high didn't reach 40. Lake Superior was a light greenish blue with silver highlights. We traveled to Duluth to pick up supplies before the storm. In Duluth there were also copper streaks in the water from the Saint Louis River runoff.
March 2025
Mar 31: As March ends we have a clear day with blue skies this morning. The low is 25 this morning. Although ice has been rare this winter on Lake Superior. The lake temp is right near 32 degrees and all it needs to form ice is temps below freezing. I could see signs of thin sheet ice and small ice shards looking at the lake surface this morning. With 2ft roller waves from the SE and sunny skies, I expect these signs to quickly disappear.
Mar 30: It is another overcast and cloud filled sky. No signs of sun today. Above the lake horizon line it is almost a black blue signaling quite a storm in northern Wisconsin. Two freighters passed by in the late afternoon going towards Duluth. Lake Superior has 3-4ft green waves from the SSE impacting into the shore. Our low overnight was 30 and our high today was 37.
Mar 29: It is a gray cloud covered day. Our low was 28 and our high 33. The second wave of the winter storm passed to the south so we only ended up with 1" of accumulation. All of that has melted away this afternoon. We have 1-2ft blue waves from the SE with silver and white highlights. The exception is close to shore where those waves take on a more copper color.
Mar 28: It stayed above freezing during the night and then hovered around freezing all day long. It is now 30 degrees at 8pm which is our low for the day. There were tremendous winds today shaking the tops of the trees and adding energy to Lake Superior. Waves have built from 2ft waves this morning to 3-5ft waves right now. They are powerful waves from the SE and you can feel them when the hit the ledgerock on the shore. Light rain began around 11am but turned to snow around 4pm. Although it snowed heavy at times, it appears that we only have about 1" of accumulation. That is fine with me. I think I am tired of snow and April is just a couple days away.
Mar 27: We had a low of 31 and a high of 42 today with a strong cold breeze off Lake Superior. The big lake had bluish gray 2ft waves from the SE with dark green shadows. Skies have been mixed today with lots of sun earlier but definitely clouding up with dark gray clouds in the later afternoon.
Mar 26: We had a low of 21 and a high of 44 today. There was lots of sun, lots of blue skies, and a gentle breeze. I saw that first green growth this spring in a small open ditch with water flowing from the melting snow. It is great to see that first sign of spring. Lake Superior was a deep blue with a highly textured surface and smal to 1ft waves from the SE.
Mar 25: We have mostly clear blue skies with a few white cumulus clouds over the land and a little bit of haze over the lake. Lake Superior is blue with greenish shadows and 1ft waves coming straight into shore from the SSE. The low this morning was 19 and we are currently at 39 which is close to our high for the day. The sun is quickly melting the snow this afternoon. The air is still making it feel warmer than it is.
Mar 24: The snow ended during the night. All told, we had about 12" of wet snow from yesterday's winter storm. Our low was 28 this morning and we topped out at 37 this afternoon. Lake Superior is a navy blue with 1ft roller waves from the SSE against a light gray horizon. Overhead we have gray overcast skies of varying degrees of opacity. Definitely had some melting today and considering how heavy the snow is, we are being selective with what we are removing. We hope the sun will be our friend and do the heavy lifting for us.
Mar 23: The storm hit just after 5am this morning. We have heavy snow and swirling winds. Lake Superior has 4ft silver waves from the SE belting the shore. The snow plow has past by twice already at 9am. No travel is advised for today and the blizzard is supposed to end by tomorrow morning. Looks like that will be a day of shoveling out. The low was 20 degrees. We are now at 28 degrees at 9am.
Mar 22: It didn't feel like spring today. Our morning low was 8 and our high 26. I was expecting to see some ice sheets or shards on the lake this morning but there was non. We did have ice on the rocks from the spray overnight. Early in the afternoon some broken up sheet ice moved into shore. The 2-3ft waves from the south kept churning the ice up into smaller shards and then a few large rogue waves threw that ice as a drift onto the rocks. Skies are clear and blue. Lake Superior is deep blue against a white horizon. The ice chunks in the water are translucent and blue.
Mar 21: Lake Superior was a deep blue with navy shadows today. Waves varied between 2-3ft coming straight in from the SSE. We had plenty of sun with just a few thin white clouds in the sky. Gusts of wind from the hill can be watched hitting the lake and then spreading out over the surface. Our low was 32 and our high was 45.
Mar 20: It got down to 23 this morning and with the lake so cold, that was enough to create some thin ice sheets and shards near the shore of a mostly calm lake. Skies were mostly clear last night with plenty of stars. This afternoon, the waves picked up to 2-3ft blue waves with green shadows from the south. Skies are mostly sunny and temps warmed up to 38.
Mar 19: As a blizzard moved across southern Minnesota today, we had nice weather in comparison. Our high was 41 after a low of 29. Skies were light gray overcast and Lake Superior was a light gray blue with only small waves.
Mar 18: It was fun watching the storm grow across the lake today. It started with a narrow navy band of water just below the horizon and a thin blue band jst above the horizon. Those bands continued to grow and the one above the horizon almost turned black as lake effect snow belted the south shore of Lake Superior. Waves grew to 2-3ft dark blue gray waves by the end of the day from the SE. Skies overhead stayed a light gray overcast. Our low was 34 and our high was 41.
Mar 17: Skies are mostly overcast today, a little white, a little gray, a few times you could see clouds. Lake Superior has 2-3ft waves from the SE. In close they have a brownish green hue. Out further the blue waves have a purple tint to them. The low overnight was 28 and our high today was 36. The winds were pretty intense this morning but have become more subdued later in the day.
Mar 16: The powerful winds last night off the hill subdued waves near the shore but we could see the rough choppy waves out away from shore. Overnight, it dropped to 18 and I could see sections of sheet ice on the lake as the sun came up. Warming to a high of 43, the ice broke into ice shards and quickly was reabsorbed by the lake. At 5pm we have 1ft bright blue waves all the way from the SSW glancing against the shore. There is a crisp white horizon line that turns into clear light blue skies over the lake and a few high thin clouds overhead.
Mar 15: Beware of the Ides of March. We had a thunderstorm early this morning. Then we had a muddy rainstorm this afternoon. Apparently a huge amount of dust from Texas was in our air and the rain washed it out leaving a heavy dust residue on all exposed surfaces. Yesterday our high topped out at 51. Overnight we dropped to 36. We rose to 46 by midmorning and have been slowly going down ever since. Currently we are 42 with overcast gray skies and 1ft blue waves from the SSE.
Mar 14: We have 1-2ft blue waves with navy shadows from the SE this afternoon. The skies are clear blue but a little hazy especially to the west and across the lake. Our first thunderstorm passed through Croftville this morning. It was short lived. It started with a dark front about 10am passing by and producing for less than 5 minutes heavy rain and 1/4" hail. This was followed by much lighter skies and light rain for another 20 minutes. That was it, but it did cause a power outage, scared our cat, and lit the dark sky with lightning.
Mar 13: We said goodbye to our amazing office manager, Ashley, today and wish her success in her new endeavor. For all of you who have had the pleasure of interacting with her this past year, know that she will be missed. The low in Croftville this morning was 27 and our high today was 44. Lake Superior had blue skies with a slight haze today. We thought we would be able to see the lunar eclipse tonight but the skies have become overcast as evening came. Lake Superior has 1ft blue waves from the SE.
Mar 12: Our morning low was 17 and we are currently at 35 at 3pm. The day began with about 2" of fluffy snow around sunrise. Most of that snow has already melted. Lake Superior has 1-2ft silver green waves from the SE with olive shadows. We have gray cloudy skies and a crisp lake horizon line.
Mar 11: Although mostly sunny, it was a cooler day today with a high of 38 after a morning low of 20. I am still fighting off a bad cold/cough which keeps inside away from the luring early spring weather. Lake Superior was blue with 1-2ft waves. Skies were blue and partly cloudy.
Mar 10: It stayed above freezing overnight with 33 degrees. And it was another day of thawing with a high of 44 here along Lake Superior. However, it was nowhere near the record temps of yesterday and the record temps across southern Minnesota today. Skies were mostly clear blue and we had 2-3ft blue waves from the south.
Mar 9: We changed to daylight savings time during the night and we apparently abruptly changed seasons as well. After a nighttime low of 11, we skyrocketed to 56 degrees this afternoon in the clear blue skies and sunlight. Lake Superior had 2-3ft blue waves with navy shadows and white crests from the south. It was a great day to be inside but I had to stay in as I fight off a cold.
Mar 8: We woke up to a snowstorm this morning. Only about an inch or little more of accumulation but it came down pretty hard for an hour or so. The morning low was 25 and partly cloudy skies replaced the snow skies by about 10am. Lake Superior has 2-3ft blue green waves from the south pounding our shore with translucent green shadows as the waves break near the shore.
Mar 7: It was a cold morning at 11 but warmed up to 30 for our afternoon high. We had plenty of sun, blue skies, and a little thawing in the full sun. Lake Superior has 2ft blue waves.
Mar 6: It is clear out tonight with black skies and crisp stars clearly in the sky. We have 1-2ft black waves from the south with very little reflections off the lake. Our low this morning was 13 but with the clear skies we warmed up quickly with a high of 36. Right now we have cooled down to 28 at 7pm.
Mar 5: It is a tremendously windy day today. Overnight we had maybe a half inch of snow as temps finally dropped below freezing. Our low this morning was 21 and we are currently at 25 at noon. The wind gusts off the hill can almost blow you over. Watching them hit the lake you can see the lake depress. Lake Superior is a light silver blue with 2-3ft roller waves from the SE. Skies are dense clouds combined with some overcast as well.
Mar 4: Our high for the day was at midnight with 41 degrees. Temps had fallen to 37 in the morning and were at 34 when we got back from our shopping trip to Duluth at 7pm. We had snow and rain falling in Duluth but by the time we got to Cook County there was no sign of any fresh snow. In fact, there was no sign of any rain either with dry pavement.
Mar 3: It is a sunny day in Croftville. Blue skies with just a little haze over the lake. Lake Superior is a deep blue with 1ft waves coming straight in from the SSE. We started the day with 21 degrees and have warmed up quickly to 36 degrees already at noon.
Mar 2: We began the morning with clear skies, a brilliant sunrise and 8 degrees. As the day continues, we have clouds that have moved in and have warmed up to an afternoon high of 30 degrees. Lake Superior is a brownish gray with 3ft waves from the south that are transporting a little ice up onto our shore. The lake has translucent blue shadows beneath the crest of the waves close to shore.
Mar 1: It was cold and clear today with blue skies and blue 1ft waves from the SSW. Our low was 3 this morning and we warmed up to 24 in the afternoon. With the clear skies, temps are dropping quickly as the sun gets lower in the sky.
February 2025
Feb 28: The heavy snow didn't materialize at least along the shore in Croftville. Snow began around 1am and the bulk of the snow was done by 7am with 1-2 inches of wet snow. Temps have been dropping all day with 38 at midnight to 17 now at 6pm. Winds have been gusty today with strong gusts from the north. Skies have been overcast or cloudy all day. As the sun sets I can see signs of clearing skies in the west. February ends with Lake Superior having 3ft navy roller waves from the SSE on a textured surface.
Feb 27: It was a completely cloudy day today with white and gray cloud cover. We had a very brief snowfall for about a half hour this morning. Our low was 32 and our high today was 38. Lake Superior has 1ft grayish green waves from the SSE today. There are predictions for snow overnight so we have our snow removal equipment ready to go.
Feb 26: Our low was 26 and our high was 37 today. Skies were mostly overcast and cloudy today with a little sun at times. Not much thawing took place today compared to the past few days. Lake Superior was grayish green with only small waves from the south.
Feb 25: The day started with a gray overcast and a calm gray Lake Superior. Our low overnight was 34. It looked like the overcast would be here all day but it burned off in the afternoon and we had a high of 46 and blue sunny skies. Lake Superior was only able to muster 1ft waves that stayed pale blue in the sun. This evening we are already to 31 degrees which is our low now for the day. If skies stay clear we should have icy roads and sidewalks in the morning,
Feb 24: It was a day of thawing today. Even our low was 32 degrees right at freezing. Our high for the day was 46. Skies have been mixed with sometimes mostly sunny to others mostly cloudy. When that sun came out it really melted snow on the roads and rooves. Lake Superior has 1-2ft green waves from the south. Sometime during the night some broken sheet ice must have got pushed up on the shore. By morning there was no evidence of ice in the water or the first couple feet of shoreline. However, 2 feet in there is a drift of ice about 1ft high piled on the rocks. The black basalt rocks have made much of that disappear today in the sun.
Feb 23: It was a mild day with a low of 25 and a high of 36 and a little thawing, especially on the roadways. Lake Superior was a pale blue with just small waves. Skies were hazy with a little sun. We are now entering our last week in February.
Feb 22: If not for the strong winds off the lake it would have been a pleasant day outside yesterday and that would have continued into today. Our low was 20 and our high 36 today. There was plenty of sun with a few clouds over the lake. Lake Superior had 2-3ft blue waves with navy shadows and silver highlights from the south. With all the wave action and the warm temps, there was no lingering signs of ice on the lake today.
Feb 21: Lake Superior is turbulent today with 2-4ft navy waves from the south buffeting the shore. It has completely broken up the ice shelf near the shore that has been growing the last few days. You can still see some ice shards in the lake along with a few chunks from the broken off ice shelf. However, most of the ice has been reabsorbed. Our low this morning was 5 and our high was 32. We have cloudy skies today and no sun since shortly after sunrise.
Feb 20: Our low this morning was 6 degrees and our high this afternoon touched 32. Skies have been pale blue with haze this morning and clear this afternoon. Lake Superior has finally cooled down enough that we are beginning to form an ice shelf along the shoreline. This is both from sheet ice being pushed onto the shore and water being sprayed onto the shore. Lake Superior is calm today and we can see large sheets of ice out away from shore. Nearer to shore there are small patches of ice sheets in the mostly open water but also with ice shards floating about. There was not enough wave action today to reabsorb the ice.
Feb 19: We drove back from southern Minnesoat today and it actually got warmer as we went up the North Shore. We started in Northfield at about 6 below, by the time we got to Duluth we were at 5 above, and by the time we rolled into Croftville at 10pm it was 10 above. In Croftville, our low was 5 degrees this morning and the high was 16.
Feb 18: It was 6 below this morning with a calm Lake Superior with just ripples, thin sheets of ice, steam rising into the gray cloud over the lake, and ice shards in the water. The rest of the sky is a hazy blue. By noon we had 1ft blue gray waves from the south that had reabsorbed all the ice we saw earlier this morning. The sun has no problem cutting through the haze. We are at 7 above at noon.
Feb 17: Lake Superior had it's first noticeable ice down on Croftville Road this morning. The lake was calm and it was cold (8 below zero). Steam curlicues were rising off the surface into a dark cloud forming over the lake. I could see both ice shards in the water, ice shards pushed onto shore by the ripples, and thin sheets of ice scattered out as far as I could see. As temps began to rise and the sun came out in a hazy sky, the sheets quickly broke up and the shards were reabsorbed. After a high of 16 yesterday, we are currently at 5 above at 1pm.
Feb 16: The unfrozen lake next to us is keeping us warm in Croftville compared to areas further inland this morning. We are at zero degrees which is 15 to 20 degrees warmer than the air inland. Lake Superior has 6 inch to 1ft blue gray roller waves this morning from the SSE. You can see signs on the highly textured surface of some ice shards forming in the water. You can also see the steam rising off the lake surface that has formed a large cloud mass over the center of the lake. Winds coming down from the hills are striking the lake. You can watch the gusts move out over the water.
Feb 15: We had more snow overnight and this morning. Perhaps another inch to add to our total from yesterday. Our low this morning was 2 above and our high this afternoon was 21. Skies are a white overcast with no direct sun today. Lake Superior has 2ft gray waves with greenish shadows from the SE breaking into our rocks.
Feb 14: This morning we woke up to snow. The snow quit around noon but came back in the evening hours. All total we had 1-2 inches of accumulation. In between the snows we had some sun but not enough to really warm up temps. Our low was 4 above and our high was 16. We took a drive up to Gunflint Lodge this afternoon to spend time with my valentine and to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary.
Feb 13: It was a sunny day outside with bright blue skies except for the cloudmass and cloudbanks over the lake. Lake Superior was blue with navy shadows and 1ft waves with a textured surface from the south. It was cold this morning with 2 below zero and the lake was eerily still and silent during the night. When I woke up this morning we could see the sea smoke rising off the surface and ice shards forming on the surface. Once the lake began with a little wave action the shards were turned back into liquid. Our high this afternoon was 14.
Feb 12: I am not sure where it came from but we had steady fine snow coming down this morning which ended in steady flurries for most of the day. Accumulation in the end was about a half inch. Lake Superior had 2ft silver gray waves with dark gray shadows from the south. The skies were a light gray overcast. The low and high were 1 below to 18 above.
Feb 11: Brrrh. It was a cold night and a cold day today for the middle of February. We had 8 below zero this morning and in spite of blue skies and sunshine all day, our high was only 12 above. Lake Superior had 1ft blue roller waves on a textured surface from the south. Over the lake this morning was the rising steam into the dark gray cloudmass building over the lake. The sunshine this afternoon dissipated the big dark cloud. even with the bitter cold, there were no signs of ice forming on the lake in Croftville. By late afternoon the waves had grown to 2-3ft.
Feb 10: We had some beautiful and colorful skies today all the way from sunrise to sunset with partly cloudy cumulus clouds and lots of sunshine. The big lake has blue 2-3ft waves from the south with navy shadows. Our low this morning was 5 degrees and our afternoon high was 15. Temps are expected to plummet tonight.
Feb 9: Our low this morning was 0 and our high this afternoon was 25. Skies were cloudy with thin clouds allowing sunlight through at times. Tonight we have a nearly full moon and bright stars in the clear black skies. There are 2-3ft waves from the SSE banging into the rocks.
Feb 8: Lake Superior was calm today with almost unnoticeable ripples on the gray surface. Skies were mostly cloudy with thin gray clouds that nearly would let sunlight through at times. There was a dusting of snow on the ground this morning. Our low was 8 and our high was 21.
Feb 7: It was a beautiful sunrise. The large cloudmass over the lake from the 7 degree low was backlit by the rising sun. Lake Superior had 2-3ft gray waves with blue green shadows from the south. The sun was able to pop out at times today and temps rose to a high of 24 degrees.
Feb 6: It got windy and began to snow during the night. The snow ended around 10am. I think we ended up with about 4 inches of fresh snow down here on the Croftville Road. It could have been more but it is difficult to tell with the large amount of drifting. I woke up to 24 this morning and temps have been dropping ever since. Currently we are at 12 degrees at 4pm. The strong winds from the WNW made snow removal a difficult task today. Skies are a white and gray overcast. Lake Superior has blue waves with translucent turquoise shadows from the south. Waves were 2-3ft high this morning but have increased to mighty 3-6ft waves this afternoon.
Feb 5: Our low this morning was 1 below zero an our high today was 18. It was a white lightly overcast morning that turned to a heavier gray overcast as the day wore on. Lake Superior is a silver gray and calm with just some ripples from the south. It feels colder outside than it is, probably due to humidity in the air.
Feb 4: Lake Superior has calmed down today with blue ripples to 1ft waves from the south. Skies were blue and clear over land this morning but eventually changed to thin high clouds that let enough sunlight through to cast a shadow. Over the lake we had a dark cloudmass forming from the very cold 3 below low. Temps were slow to warm up but reached 17 degrees down by the lake in Croftville in midafternoon before a steady decent began.
Feb 3: Our low was 12 this morning and our high was 24. Temps are dropping rapidly now and we are in the single digits at 9pm. Lake Superior was turbulent once again today with blue 3-5ft waves. Skies were again mostly overcast with a little sun poking out now and then.
Feb 2: We woke up today with the snow ended but with 4-5' of fresh snow on the ground. It was difficult to tell just how much we got because of the drifting. Our overnight low was right at midnight. Temps stayed steady and we woke up to 28 degrees. Our high early this afternoon was 33 degrees. Lake Superior again had bold energetic 3-5ft waves from the SE changing to the SSE. I hope all this snow removal results in some calls for people to come to Grand Marais to enjoy winter sports.
Feb 1: We have had light snow all day with white overcast skies. However, it wasn't until dark that it began accumulating. Right now we have about 2" of fresh snow at 8pm. The waves have been fierce on Gitche Gumee all day long. We have 3-5ft dark blue waves from the SE. Our morning low dropped to 1 below but temps continue to rise steadily all day. Currently at 8pm we have our high for the day of 24 degrees.
January 2025
Jan 31: January ends with 1-2ft blue gray waves on Lake Superior turning today from the SE. Our morning low was 10 and we climbed to 30 and partly sunny skies before descending back down to single digits tonight. The weather people are going crazy predicting heavy snow beginning tomorrow. A little more fresh snow would be nice but not the 10 plus inches they keep warning us about.
Jan 30: We started the day with an overnight dusting of snow and 15 degrees. Skies were mostly cloudy today but still enough sun got through to soar our temperature to a high of 39 degrees. This is still January, right? Lake Superior was a deep blue with 1-2ft waves. It was a great day to be outdoors for whatever reason or excuse you could come up with.
Jan 29: The air is still. Lake Superior has a dark gray blue surface with ripples from the south. The skies are cloudy all the way to the horizons. No visible breaks in the clouds as the day begins. We had another bout of lake effect snow last night but accumulation was less than an inch. Our morning low is 15.
Jan 28: We had high winds off the lake last night and this morning. Of course, that meant some lake effect snow for us in Croftville. We had 3-4 inches of accumulation with snow still coming down but only lightly. Our morning low was 9 degrees, our high was 35. Lake Superior was a dark gray blue with 2ft waves still from the south. We traveled to Duluth today for shopping and it was a heat wave down at the head of the lake with 45 degrees up on top of the hill. Roads were snow packed all the way to Two Harbors. The snow ended as we left Cook County.
Jan 27: Lake Superior amassed powerful waves during the night and they continue on today. We have had 3-5ft aqua blue waves from the south thundering into the Croftville shore. The highlights are a translucent turquoise. Skies are mixed with individual clouds, bands of clouds, and sometimes clear letting the sun through. Our low was 24 and our high so far has been 35 degrees which is what it hits when the sun comes out.
Jan 26: Our morning low was 9 degrees but with plenty of blue skies and sun we are already at 24 degrees at noon. Lake Superior is a brilliant blue with navy shadows, silver highlights and blinding reflections of the sun on the 2-3ft waves from the south. There is a band of cumulus clouds across the lake in northern Wisconsin,
Jan 25: Our high today was 31 degrees after waking up to 21 degrees this morning and seeing temps drop to the low teens after sunset. We had another 2 inches of snow fall during the night and this morning. It was enough to have to blow, shovel, or sweep every driveway, steps, or walkways on the resort. Lake Superior was gray blue this morning with 2-3ft waves from the south. Skies were white overcast.
Jan 24: Our morning low was 1 below zero this morning and we continued on a temperature ascent all day with a high of 21 degrees so far at 9pm. We had lake effect snow falling for a while this morning as the wind blew onto the land. In the end, it was about a half inch of accumulation. Skies were cloudy, white overcast, and gray overcast. Lake Superior had powerful 3-4ft waves buffeting the shore from the SE all day long.
Jan 23: It got cold again overnight with 2 below zero. Skies were mostly overcast today and so temps did not warm up very much with a high of 8 above. There was a lot of steam coming off a gray calm Lake Superior.
Jan 22: The temps rose during the night and through the day today finally reaching our high if 17 at 2pm. The below zero temps are gone. The winds were powerful off the lake last night and the 2 to 3 inches of snow we had overnight and this morning was traveling horizontally. This energy generated 2-4ft waves from the south. With the snow, the sky has been white overcast all day even after the snow ended around noon.
Jan 21: It was 18 below during the night which is as cold as I can remember along an unfrozen Lake Superior in many, many years. That cold required our gas stoves and boiler to all run continuously through the night. That load was too great for our LP tank and we lost propane to some of our stoves in the inn which were the furthest away from our tank. The cold also reduces the volume of propane turning to gas further limiting our supply. However, by daybreak temps were up to 13 below and by 5pm we had climber to what feels like a balmy 6 degrees above zero. Lake Superior continues with a navy backdrop at the horizon. There is a great cloudmass sitting over the lake and steam rises off the surface growing that cloudmass. Sign of ice on the surface is gone today with 1-3ft waves adding too much energy to the lake to allow the ice to form. Lake Superior is a dark blue with it waves from the south. Blue clear skies continued overhead this morning but clouds have moved in over the afternoon.
Jan 20: It was 16 below zero this morning. At 3pm we are at what might be our high for the day at 7 below. This morning Lake Superior had 1ft dark blue gray waves coming straight in from the SSE. As the day progressed we now have just ripples from the south. Mark this day. It was the first day I could confirm small ice shards forming on the lake surface. You can see them as they shimmer and change the texture of the lake surface. Skies overhead are still clear blue. It is hard for them to be anything else in such cold temperatures. Over the lake, the lake horizon is a fuzzy navy with a large gray cloudmass in front of it.
Jan 19: Happy Birthday Cecelia Rose. It is a bitterly cold day with a morning low of 14 below along the unfrozen lake in Croftville and a high today of 6 below. That is remarkably cold beside a large unfrozen lake that is acting as a heater. Gitche Gumi had 1-2ft dark blue gray waves from the south. Skies overhead were clear blue and produced an amazing orange sunset in the west. However, skies over the lake were covered in the large cloudmass from the rising steam.
Jan 18: We have clear skies overhead on a bitterly cold morning with a morning low of 1 below zero. Lake Superior has 1ft blue waves from the south with silver highlights and navy shadows. Over the lake we can see the cloudmass forming from the steam rising off the lake surface in little curlicues. At 2pm we have risen up to 6 degrees which is probably close to our high for today.
Jan 17: After a day of organizing at my mom's new apartment we headed out for Grand Marais at 6:30 pm. The temperatures dropped throughout the day beginning 36 and falling eventually to 18 before heading for home. There was a very powerful north headwind that impeded our progress as we tried to pull my covered trailer with our Escape into those gales. 3 tanks of gas and 2 mega cups of Diet Mountain Dew later, we arrived in Croftville around 1:30am with 8 degrees.
Jan 16: The high in Croftville today was 39 but we were not here. We were in southeastern Minnesota moving my mom from Prior Lake to Dundas. Temperatures were about the same in Dundas. There was a dusting of very fine snow leftover from the day before that made some surfaces quite slippery. However, with 10 adults, a 2-year-old and a 90-year-old mom, we were able to get the remaining items moved in just 2 loads for my covered trailer. Plus we got her Prior lake townhouse spic and span and ready for several showing beginning the next day. The day ended with all exhausted and beyond hungry when Julie brought soft tacos and beer spread to replenish us at the new apartment.
Jan 15: We traveled yesterday to Saint Paul to drop off our daughter back to Hamline and then go to my mom's townhouse in Prior Lake to help her move to Dundas. Today started with cold temperatures hovering around zero but the rose steadily through the day and ended up in the upper 20's before dark. We packed all day and brought the first load of possessions to Dundas to see the new apartment. A light fine snow fell around 4-6pm making for poor footing but we got everything inside and then treated ourselves to Boonie Burgers at the nearby Millersburg Store.
Jan 14: There is a cloudmass forming over the middle of the lake as steam rises off the water from the cold. Our low this morning was 0 degrees. Lake Superior has 1ft silver gray waves from the SE with a textured surface that might suggest some ice crystals forming on the lake. Skies are cloudy but not thick enough to prevent a beautiful sunrise with oranges and reds this morning.
Jan 13: Our high yesterday stalled at 27 degrees before temperatures dropping quickly overnight. I woke up to a morning low of 6 and then it warmed up today to 8 before starting to drop once again. Currently we are at 3 degrees at 5pm. It has been a cold day today. Luckily, the wind has been intermittent and mild. Today we spent cleaning up from our snow from the past 2 days. All total we had about 4-5 inches of fresh snow and some drifting as well. Lake Superior today was a dark blue with 1-2ft waves from the SE underneath an overcast horizon and sky.
Jan 12: Our high yesterday was 24 degrees at midnight and it warmed overnight slightly to 26 this morning. We had light snow beginning around 2pm yesterday and has continued uninterrupted through the night. So far, we have accumulated about 3" of fresh fine snow here in Croftville. Skies are a light gray overcast with snow. Lake Superior has 1-2ft greenish gray waves from the SE.
Jan 11: It is 21 degrees this morning. Lake Superior is calm with a gray surface and ripples from the south. The sky is a uniform gray overcast all the way from the zenith to the lake horizon. There is talk of heavy snow coming today, we will see what Mother Nature brings.
Jan 10: We had some light snow overnight. it was about a half inch, just enough to need to sweep the stairs and walkways. This morning we have cloudy skies with white and gray cumulus clouds. Lake Superior is a dark blue with 1-2ft waves from the SE. Our morning low was 17 and we hit 30 for our afternoon high. The air is still.
Jan 9: It is an overcast gray day outside today. It is warmer with a low in the teens and a high of 28 this afternoon. Lake Superior has 2-3ft blue waves with silver highlights and navy shadows from the SSE. The is a crisp horizon line with white sky above it the melds into the gray overcast.
Jan 8: Our morning low is 10 as we set out for a day in Duluth. Skies were mixed with a little sun, some cloudbanks, but mostly overcast. Our high this afternoon was in the low 20's in Duluth. Lake Superior was a dark blue with 1-2ft waves from the SE.
Jan 7: The morning low was 5 and the afternoon high was 21. Lake Superior has 1-2ft blue gray waves from the SE against a mixed sky of gray clouds and blue sky. There is still no snow predicted in the long term forecasts for the next week.
Jan 6: Happy Epiphany! We welcome the season of light and can already notice the lengthening days now that we are already 2 weeks past the winter solstice. It is another day of blue skies and sun. Our low was 5 this morning and we peaked at 21. Lake Superior is calm and blue with a textured surface. There is a thin bank of clouds above the lake horizon.
Jan 5: I saw 2 more freighters pass by during the night. I think we must be getting close to the closing of the Soo Locks with all the activity out on Lake Superior. Our low this morning next to the lake was 1 above and it has been warming up nicely today with the clear blue skies and the white horizon. We are now at 19 degrees at 2pm. Lake Superior has a blue textured calm surface with navy shadows. Gusts of wind coming off the hill can be followed moving out on the lake surface.
Jan 4: We watched 3 freighters pass by during the night. One was very close to shore perhaps 1.5 to 2 miles. Being so close the freighter moved through our line of sight so quickly and the lights were so crisp I wondered if they could see us standing on the porch as they passed by. Our high yesterday was 9 and we dropped to 2 below zero this morning next to the lake. Lake Superior is a deep blue with almost black shadows this morning with 1ft waves from the south and steam curlicues rising up off its surface. We have strong gusts of wind, clear blue skies, and bright sun. It seems like it has been weeks since we last had clear sunny skies.
Jan 3: Temps have continued to drop overnight. We are down to 7 this morning and it doesn't look like it will warm up much today in spite of blue hazy skies overhead. Lake Superior is light blue with ripples from the south. The sky over the lake horizon is a dark navy which breaks into cloudbanks as you pan upwards. We saw 3 freighters all lit up go past us last night. I haven't heard the closing date for the Soo Locks but it should be in the next couple weeks.
Jan 2: It was a day of slowly descending temperatures. It was in the upper teens this morning and we are now at 12 degrees at sunset. Teresa took an amazing photo where the sunset almost looked like the northern lights. Today we had breaks of sun in what was mostly another gray overcast day. Lake Superior was fairly calm with 1ft or less blue gray waves from the south.
Jan 1: Happy 2025. My dad would have been 96 today as the New Year's Baby in Racine, WI in 1929. It is hard to believe he has been gone for over 11 years. Temps have been slowly falling all day. It was about 26 at midnight and is now 22 at 3pm. The air is still today. Skies are once again a gray overcast with snow flurries coming down from time to time but nothing measurable. Lake Superior is a dark blue with 1-2ft waves from the south.