Lake Erie Nears First Full Freeze Of The Century; Japan Buried; CO2 Residence Myth Exposed; + Hunga’s Water Vapor Spike Fading Fast

A widespread, ‘walkable’ freeze not seen in more than 35 years.

Lake Erie Nears First Full Freeze Of The Century

Lake Erie is now about 96% ice-covered and still climbing. With another surge of Arctic air locking in over the eastern U.S., the lake is on track to reach 100% ice coverage within days — the first full freeze in three decades.

Lake Erie is the shallowest of the Great Lakes, making it the quickest to respond to sustained cold. Even so, full ice coverage is rare, and it has taken a bitterly and persistently cold Jan-Feb of 2026 to lock-up its waters.

Further south, ice has also taken hold across Chesapeake Bay between Maryland and Virginia — a widespread, ‘walkable’ freeze not seen in more than 35 years:

[Mike Seidel on X]

With another cold weekend ahead, the ice is set to hold firm rather than retreat.

Japan Buried

Heavy snow continues to hammer northern Japan, with Sapporo and much of Hokkaido buried deeper as of Feb 6, 2026:

Roof collapses, transport failures, and widespread damage are being reported across northern and western regions.

More than 35 people are confirmed dead, with hundreds injured, most during snow removal. Niigata has been hardest hit, but fatalities span multiple prefectures as persistent accumulation overwhelms buildings and emergency services.

And the cold is intensifying.