MichiganRadio

Swimming in Lake Superior ANN ARBOR, MI (Michigan Radio) -

Lake Superior is more welcoming to swimmers than usual this summer.

The lake is about 20 degrees warmer than normal.

Most July days the chilly waters of Lake Superior are just that, chilly, with normal temperatures being in the low 40s. But this year, Lake Superior is warm, about 60 degrees plus.

Jay Austin is a researcher at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. He doesn't want to draw a direct connection between the rising temps and 'Global Warming', but... "What we have seen is this general trend toward this summer season starting earlier and earlier every year," says Austin, "The last few years have been pretty average...then this year is really anomalously early."

Austin says researchers predicted the big temperature jump last winter, after less ice formed on Lake Superior than normal. © Copyright 2012, Michigan Radio