The Great Lakes are under the largest cover of ice in 20 years. The early winter polar vortex that brought in freezing temperatures throughout eastern North America has put an ice cover over about 52 per cent of the Great Lakes.And that ice cover is expected to continue to expand say scientists, as frigid temperatures keep their grip on the region.
a good source for relatively current ice cover is the Canadian ice service. The article is a few days old I think. By my estimate the cover as of this pm was more like 60% -- also, other parts of the arctic and near arctic are below normal in ice coverage e.g., near the Bering strait and in a part of Baffin bay