An Icy Lake Erie

We’ve had bitter cold for what seems like forever this winter. Lake Erie is almost completely frozen, so we decided to visit Mentor Headlands Beach to see the large ice chunks which crowded the shoreline. The sun was bright, the wind stiff and bitter cold, and the ice was blinding. Still, it was an amazing sight to see the huge chunks of ice and the bit of sparkle as the sun bounced off them, making some look like giant diamonds. Here are a few photos.

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Big Winds, Big Waves on Lake Erie

There were high wind warnings in northeast Ohio yesterday, and when the winds blow big, I like to watch the waves churn on Lake Erie. We visited Mentor Headlands State Park, where the winds were much stronger than those just a few miles inland. The waves did not disappoint. The wind at the time was roughly 35-40 mph sustained, with gusts to 50. (Some areas reported gusts of 60 mph.)  As the crashing waves hit the wind,  they exploded in huge sprays of water.  We walked the dunes trail, and while the wind was stiff heading east, when we turned west to head back to our car, it was so strong it was very difficult to walk. But it was worth it to catch some of those waves! Here are a few photos.

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The Lake Erie Bluffs Observation Tower Is Open

The new observation tower has finally opened at Lake Erie Bluffs, part of the Lake Metroparks system. The weather was comfortably cool,  there was a stiff breeze,  and it was sunny - perfect for viewing the surrounding area.  The tower steps are easy to navigate and the top of the tower has plenty of room.   The Fairport Harbor West lighthouse at Mentor Headlands was easily visible. The birds seemed to be hiding today,  but quite a few monarch butterflies were flying around the trails.  Here are a few photos.

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The Birth Of A Thunderstorm

There was a cold front that was expected to move over the area yesterday, and with the temperatures hot and the air very humid, thunderstorms were expected. As the clouds began to bubble up in the afternoon, we decided to drive to the nearby Mentor Headlands Beach to watch the storm roll in. We had to wait about an hour and a half for the front to come in, but it was well worth it. We were able to see the storm from its early stages of thickening clouds and crepuscular rays to a full blown, massive thunderstorm. As the storm moved in off Lake Erie, the wind picked up considerably, blowing sand which stung our skin. The clouds and winds dropped in at the eastern edge of the beach, over the Fairport Harbor West lighthouse, causing the gulls lounging there to quickly scatter. As we were on the western side of the beach, this was the perfect signal to run for cover. We easily made it to our car before the full force of the wind and rain hit.


Here are some photos and a very short video that I am sure cloud and storm lovers will enjoy! (Click on any image for a larger view.)

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Lake Erie Bluffs On A Beautiful Morning

It was a beautiful day today, and a perfect day to take a morning walk through the Lake Metroparks' Lake Erie Bluffs in Perry, Ohio. We visited both sections of the park and saw many birds and butterflies. There were almost no waves on Lake Erie, and little wind. The sky was painted with wispy cirrus clouds, making for delightful pictures. Here are a few!

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A Frozen Lake Erie and Frozen Waves At Mentor Headlands

It was zero degrees at about 4:00 PM this afternoon, so what better time to head to the beach? It was bitterly cold with heavy snow cover, and Lake Erie is 98% frozen.  The whiteness was blinding. Here are two photos taken at Mentor Headland Beach State Park on the shores of Lake Erie. The mounds on the shoreline were frozen waves which made for at least a 5 foot drop to the lake itself. (Click on any image for a larger view.)

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A Frozen Lake Erie & Cleveland Skyline

There is nothing quite like the frigid cold look of a frozen Lake Erie. Well, maybe except for the Arctic and Antarctica. Here’s a look at the Cleveland Ohio skyline and a frozen Lake Erie, taken from a 8 stories up in a building in Euclid Ohio, right on the shoreline. The ice was blindingly white and not only hard on the eyes, but on the camera as well, which, like my eyes, had difficulty adjusting to the intense light. (Click on the image for a larger view.)

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Mentor Headlands Beach & State Park

Living so close to Mentor Headlands Beach and State Park, I visit there several times a year. The dunes area is famous for its bird watching and the Fairport Harbor West breakwater lighthouse is an interesting subject for photographs.  Yesterday, the sky took the center stage, with some amazing cirrus clouds against a backdrop of a crisp blue sky which made for some great photos. Enjoy!

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