This story was originally published by Capital B Gary.
By Jenae Barnes
Capital B Gary
July 25, 2025
Climate change is causing significant and far-reaching impacts on the Great Lakes region, a new study finds.
Gary is no exception. As triple-digit temperatures bring record-breaking heatwaves to the area, and higher electricity bills, a new report shows how hot it is now and predicts how much worse things could get.
Since 1951, annual average air temperatures have increased significantly in the region, the study’s authors, The Environmental Law and Policy Center, reported. But the past half-decade has been particularly hot, they found.
The new report updates a 2019 study that was put together by over a dozen scientists and experts from Midwestern and Canadian universities and research institutions. The study highlights the accelerated impact of climate change in the Great Lakes region, including Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
More than 40 million people rely on the Great Lakes for drinking water, fisheries, recreation, commerce, and industry, all of which are impacted by climate change. The lakes sustain more than 170 species of fish and habitats for over 3,500 species of plants and animals, many of which are rare or found nowhere else.
“This update makes clear that the projections we made in 2019 are not only on track, they’re being confirmed across many scientific fields,” said Donald Wuebbles, lead author and professor at the University of Illinois. “The Great Lakes region is undergoing rapid environmental change, and the science is pointing to increasingly serious impacts in the years ahead.”
Here’s what they found:
The region is now warming much more quickly than it did over the last half-century: Since 1951, annual average air temperatures have increased by 2.9 degrees Fahrenheit in the Great Lakes region, the 2025 report found.
Heat Is Getting More Dangerous Here: Urban areas, like Chicago, may experience over 200 hours above 95 degrees by the 2030s, up from just 30 hours before. The spike in the number of hours above 95 degrees translates to higher stress on energy systems, higher electricity costs and increased risk to vulnerable populations and workers outside.
Fetch The Bug Spray — More Ticks: A variety of ticks are increasing their range and populations in the Midwest, the study found. Their disease spread among wildlife domestic, cattle, and pets has spread to 21 states, including Indiana, and Ohio. These include blacklegged ticks, a primary spreader of Lyme disease, and the lone star tick, which spreads viruses like Bourbon and Heartland, which cause symptoms like fever, fatigue and nausea.
Summer Droughts: More frequent summer droughts could affect soil moisture, surface waters, and groundwater supply, and the seasonal distribution of the water cycle will likely shift.
More Infrastructure and Flood Damage: Projected increases in droughts, severe storms, and flooding events can increase the risk of flood damage, transportation interruptions, and sewage overflow.
Warming Lakes: The deep waters of Lake Michigan are warming, the study shows. NOAA observations show that Lakes Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario all experienced record-high average surface temperatures in 2024. This record warmth is partially due to the warm fall seasons the Great Lakes region has been experiencing, but also due to the notably warm 2023-2024 winter.
Great Lakes Fish Stock: Lake Michigan’s whitefish are expected to disappear within the next five years. Even if commercial fishing ceases entirely, the species may be headed toward regional extinctions, experts say. This is due to reduced ice cover that protects the species from warming temperatures, and reduction of zooplankton, a primary food source for whitefish.
Higher Lake Levels: Higher lake levels in the Great Lakes region could increase by 2040. Lake Michigan is expected to rise 17.32 inches, higher than the other lakes. Lake Superior is expected to rise by 7.48 inches, and Lake Erie by 11.02 inches, compared to levels in 2010.
Jenae Barnes is Capital B Gary’s health and environment reporter. You can reach Jenae at jenae.barnes@capitalbnews.org.
Capital B is a Black-led, nonprofit local and national news organizations reporting for Black communities across the country.
