There are so many ways to admire nature. For Nathan Voytovick, that includes capturing footage with his drone. And because he lives in Michigan, there’s no shortage of beautiful landscapes for him to capture. This is true no matter the time of year. That said, the views in winter might be the very best. The perfect example comes from this stunning view of Lake Michigan while it’s frozen.
Videos by InspireMore
In January 2025, much of Michigan experienced wind chills of 15-30 below zero. As a result, Lake Michigan began to freeze over. But here’s the thing: Only the top layers of the water are impacted. This leads to what some are calling “ice lily pads” on the surface. Plus, because the water below remains warm enough, the water still moves, icy formations and all. See for yourself in the video below!
@abc7chicago A stunning view over Lake Michigan met a local drone operator on January 20, amid freezing temperatures. Nathan Voytovick, who posts to his Nate’s Dronography Facebook page, recorded what he called “ice lily pads” riding the waves of the lake near the North Pier Inner Lighthouse in Saint Joseph. He said the lake was freezing past the pier, causing “an insane amount” of the icy formations. A Cold Weather Advisory was set to last through to Wednesday morning with wind chills of 15-30 below zero, the National Weather Service (NWS) said.
♬ original sound – abc7chicago
Breathtaking Drone Footage Showcases the Beauty of Frozen Lake Michigan
By January 21, the ice coverage on Lake Michigan had surpassed the historical average. Even still, weather this harsh certainly isn’t new to folks in this area. In fact, just last year, a different area of this lake experienced quite a winter wonderland. But instead of the water alone freezing over, the lighthouse itself transformed into a frozen wonder! In other words, if you love winter, Michigan is a great place for you!
“Stunning! I love Lake Michigan in the winter!!!!” someone shares in reply to that stunning video, with another person adding, “I grew up on the other side of Lake Michigan. During the winter you see all kinds of things in the water. A wonderful place to live.”
“I think the little circles are called pancake ice,” a third person adds. “They’re formed in slushy water because of the waves. Temperature has to be just right.”
You can find the source of this story’s featured image here!
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