Watch Lake Erie freeze this week as temperatures drop: The Wake Up for Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026

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The Great Lakes are closed for the shipping season. And just in time, since ice cover is rocketing across Lake Erie.

The Soo Locks between Lake Superior and Lake Michigan, which allow ore boats from Lake Superior reach steel mills in the lower Great Lakes, closed for shipping last week.

Ice coverage on the lake has ramped up to 54% as of Monday and is expected to continue rising through the week. Total coverage on Lake Erie by the end of the month should be in the range of 80% to 90%.

The shallow western basin of the lake is already virtually locked in ice. And air temperatures could fall below zero Friday.

— Laura

Overnight Scores and Weather

Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Milder temps before more extreme cold

Top Stories

Lake Erie ice: Plummeting temperatures over the past several days have caused Lake Erie to start freezing again, and quite rapidly at that, reports Peter Krouse. With the arrival of extremely cold air from Canada, ice coverage has ramped up to 54% as of Monday and is expected to continue rising through the week.

Burke closure: Cleveland City Council is pushing for early involvement in Burke Lakefront Airport’s future, opposing the mayor’s push to close it quickly amid economic and community concerns, Sean McDonnell reports.

Erie discharge: Ohio’s draft permit for data centers could impact Lake Erie by allowing higher water discharges, reports Peter Krouse. That is prompting concerns from lawmakers about environmental safety and regulatory transparency.

Today in Ohio, the daily news podcast of cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer.

Today in Ohio: Ohio ranks fifth in the country for data centers, with more than 200 energy-sucking sites that legislators lured here with tax breaks and economic promises. We’re talking about how the data centers need more energy and Ohioans are stuck paying the price on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast.

Statehouse and Politics

Gambling losses: U.S. Rep. Max Miller has introduced the bipartisan FULL HOUSE Act to restore full deductibility of gambling losses, reversing a recent law change that limits deductions, reports Sabrina Eaton.

Cannabis petition: A coalition opposing Ohio’s Senate Bill 56 submitted revised summary language Tuesday along with more than 1,000 signatures from registered voters to Attorney General Dave Yost’s office after the state’s chief law enforcement officer rejected their first submission, Mary Frances McGowan reports.

Electricity outages: Ohio lawmakers are opposing FirstEnergy’s request to relax reliability standards, warning it could jeopardize public safety and emergency services, reports Anna Staver.

Vance visit: Vice President JD Vance will visit Toledo on Thursday, reports Sabrina Eaton. The vice president will tout economic achievements and energy policies in Ohio, emphasizing efforts to lower costs and create jobs.

Vance family: Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance announced Tuesday they are expecting their fourth child, a boy, due in late July, Sabrina Eaton reports.

Security details: Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy’s recent issues with his private security firm highlight how the state of Ohio currently doesn’t provide any state-issued protection for political candidates or statewide officeholders besides the governor, Jeremy Pelzer reports.

Free tuition: The University of Cincinnati will start offering free tuition for Ohio students from families earning under $75,000, aiming to increase college access and support workforce development, reports Laura Hancock.

Northeast Ohio News Cold weather hits northeast Ohio Air temperatures in Cleveland could reach a low of minus-4 degrees on Friday night, according to the National Weather Service.John Kuntz, cleveland.com

Cold weather: Temperatures in Cleveland could dip to minus-4 degrees Friday night, reports Zach Mentz. Cleveland’s most recent sub-zero day was in 2025 and the coldest day ever was minus-20 degrees in 1994.

ICE protests: Local activists withstood frigid temperatures Tuesday to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s clampdown on U.S. cities, Olivia Mitchell reports. Protesters gathered at Wade Oval Park, calling for grassroots organizing to counter what they described as government overreach one year into President Donald Trump’s second term.

Stadium lawsuit: Former Cleveland Mayor Dennis Kucinich has asked a Cuyahoga County judge to issue a preliminary injunction to halt the Cleveland Browns’ efforts to relocate their home games from Huntington Bank Field to a proposed new stadium in Brook Park.

Betting fraud: Federal sports betting scandals involve Northeast Ohio athletes like Emmanuel Clase and Damon Jones, accused of rigging games and sharing insider info. Here’s what we know, as trials are scheduled for May.

Akron-Canton Airport: Passenger traffic at the Akron-Canton Airport rose nearly 25% in 2025 compared with the year before, boosted by new routes from Breeze, Allegiant and American airlines, Susan Glaser reports.

Dog licenses: Cuyahoga County can’t offer discounts on dog licenses this year due to legal questions, but a nonprofit is running a giveaway to encourage early renewal before Jan. 31, Kaitlin Durbin reports.

Bus station: Cleveland’s Greyhound and Barons bus operations will relocate from the historic downtown terminal to a new facility in Brook Park next month. There are plans to use the current location as an entertainment venue, Susan Glaser reports.

RTA project: RTA’s West 25th Street bus project is moving forward with support from the mayor’s office, despite business concerns about parking loss. The project aims to improve transit times and is seeking federal funding, reports Rich Exner.

Arming staff: The Cardinal school board approved arming two staff members because of safety concerns and lack of a school resource officer, with strict training and confidentiality measures in place, reports Molly Walsh.

Chardon fire: A house fire in Chardon Township displaced a family and prompted community donations of Pokémon cards to help a 12-year-old boy on the autism spectrum recover his belongings, reports Molly Walsh.

Health Care and Business

Breast center: The new breast center at UH TriPoint Medical Center in Lake County unifies breast health services in one convenient location and marks the health system’s latest investment in expanded services for the region, reports Julie Washington.

Financial literacy: Akron will host a free five-week financial literacy program starting Feb. 12, focusing on building wealth, retirement, and college funds, reports Megan Becka.

Crime and Courts

Murder sentence: A Warrensville Heights man will spend decades behind bars after a jury rejected his claim that he shot and killed a Cleveland man in self-defense, David Gambino reports. Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge David Matia on Tuesday sentenced Tyrell Chandler, 29, to life in prison with parole eligibility after 29 years for the March 7, 2025 killing of Clarence Houston.

Early release: A Cuyahoga County judge last week granted early release to former Rocky River school resource officer Michael Bernhardt, freeing him about a month into the six‑month prison sentence he received for illegally accessing law‑enforcement databases, David Gambino reports.

Arts and Entertainment

ASAP Rocky: ASAP Rocky will perform in Cleveland on May 29 as part of his “Don’t Be Dumb World Tour,” supporting his new album. It’s his first return to Cleveland since 2012, reports Malcolm X Abram.

John Legend: John Legend will bring his “Evening of Songs and Stories” tour to the Akron Civic Theatre on April 11, Malcolm X Abram reports. Tickets for the show go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday.

Titanic exhibit at GLSC Artifacts and a replica of Titanic features are part of an exhibit that opens at the Great Lakes Science Center in May.RMS Titanic Inc.

Titanic exhibit: Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition opens at the Great Lakes Science Center on May 21. Paris Wolfe reports the exhibit features over 200 artifacts, life-size reconstructions, and a new virtual reality experience exploring the ship’s history and Ohio passenger stories.

Gold steak: A Cleveland restaurant is now wrapping steaks in edible gold leaf, offering a luxurious and visually striking dining experience at Steak in Tremont. There are additional fees depending on the steak size, reports Paris Wolfe.

Primus show: Primus’ Les Claypool will bring three bands, including Colonel Les Claypool’s Fearless Flying Frog Brigade and The Claypool-Lennon Delirium, to Jacobs Pavilion in June, reports Malcolm X Abram. Tickets go on sale Friday.

Ask Yadi: Yadi Rodriguez discusses the challenges of modern dating, offering advice on navigating texting anxiety and response times, emphasizing honest communication early on for a healthier connection.

Cleveland Orchestra: Franz Welser-Möst discusses his upcoming tour with The Cleveland Orchestra, expressing his feelings of gratitude and health after battling cancer, and noting the orchestra’s performances at Carnegie Hall and Miami, Zachary Lewis reports.

CLE Ballet: Cleveland Ballet will perform Handel’s Messiah at Playhouse Square from March 20 to 22, combining dance, live music, and choral singing. Tickets start at $10, reports Paris Wolfe.

Never Say Dive: Cleveland’s Never Say Dive has started Sunday brunch service at its Old Brooklyn location, offering a menu with croque madame, avocado toast, vegan options, and craft cocktails, reports Alex Darus.

Alpine chalet: Patron Saint in Cleveland will transform into an Italian alpine lodge for two weeks, featuring Northern Italian dishes and alpine cocktails, reports Alex Darus.

You’re all caught up

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— Curated by content director Laura Johnston with contributions by Cliff Pinckard.

Watch Lake Erie freeze this week as temperatures drop: The Wake Up for Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026

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