141 vessels contributed more than 900 hours of icebreaking assistance and preventative support during this season.

The U.S. Coast Guard says a freighter is on the move after it was freed from ice that trapped it in frozen Lake Erie for days.

The U.S. and Canadian Coast Guards are continuing efforts to break up ice and free a freighter that has been trapped in a frozen Lake Erie for days, officials said.

Some storm-weary residents of the Great Lakes region have seen continued snowfall and are facing the prospect of even more accumulations this week.

Black Friday is giving way to a white weekend in parts of New York state.

There are two types of people in the world: people who fear and respect the Great Lakes and those who have never seen the Great Lakes.

Western Lake Erie is an ideal environment for the bacteria that make up algae.

A health advisory has been issued after a harmful algal bloom was found in Ford Lake in Ypsilanti.

There’s an increasing problem plaguing some bodies of water in Michigan, and it could be deadly for your pets.

Morning 4 is a quick roundup of stories we think you should know about to start your day.

Five people were found clinging to a floating cooler 10 miles off the coast in Lake Erie after their boat got “swamped” by a wave, officials said.

School officials said harmful algal blooms are increasing due to increased precipitation, more powerful storms and warming Great Lakes waters.

Small towns and rural enclaves along the path of April’s total solar eclipse are steeling for huge crowds of sun chasers who plan to catch a glimpse of day turning into dusk in North America.

The Great Lakes Coast Guard worked with the Coast Guard Air Station Detroit and other municipal authorities on rescue operations.

At Detroit’s peak in the 1940s, it’s estimated that industrial companies were dumping six million gallons of waste into the Detroit and Rouge rivers every year.

A strike has shut down all shipping on the St. Lawrence Seaway, interrupting exports of grain and other goods from Canada and the United States via the Great Lakes to the rest the world.

Michigan health officials are reminding residents and visitors to avoid harmful algal blooms that may be present in lakes, rivers, and ponds in the summer.

There’s nothing quite like a Pure Michigan summer, especially along the beautiful Great Lakes -- but there’s always the risk of invasive species destroying what we hold dear.

Here is the weather forecast for Metro Detroit.

A study shows that only two of the five Great Lakes have an ecosystem that is considered “good.”

An Ohio driver took a splash as they drove their car into Lake Erie over the weekend.

The NFL is relocating the Bills' home game against the Cleveland Browns to Detroit on Sunday because of a lake-effect snowstorm set to hit the Buffalo region.

More dense fog is expected through Sunday morning before we bring it wet weather heading into Halloween.

Algal blooms can hurt wildlife and make water too dangerous to drink.

A BP refinery fire occurred in Ohio Tuesday night, and some drivers say they are nervous that the incident will drastically impact gas prices.

Two people were rescued from an overturned boat on Lake Erie overnight Sunday in Monroe County.

An avid paddleboarder, Mike Shoreman was told he could never paddleboard again. But he didn’t pay attention to that edict and now is trying to make history.

Some parts of the Northern Great Lakes region were greeted by their first significant snowfall of the season earlier this week, but not even the arrival of the fluffy white stuff could mask these historic times for the Great Lakes themselves.

Officials have recovered and identified the body of a Dearborn Heights man who disappeared underwater while swimming in Lake Erie this weekend.

A Dearborn Heights man disappeared underwater while swimming in Lake Erie this weekend and still hasn’t been found, officials said.

Authorities identified the man as Francis Brown III, a Monroe Township Fire Department lieutenant.

Welcome to Sunday night, Motown.

A Lakeshore Flood Advisory is in effect along the Detroit River and Lake Erie coastline of Monroe and Wayne Counties until 4:00 a.m. ET, Monday.

Officials say 34 people drowned in the Great Lakes this year as of the Fourth of July.

Officials say 34 people drowned in the Great Lakes this year as of the Fourth of July.

More people have drowned in the Great Lakes so far in 2021 than were reported by this time last year, prompting officials to urge swimmers to practice water safety measures.

Researchers are expecting another mild algae outbreak on Lake Erie this summer.

According to data from Climate Central, across all the Great Lakes the annual maximum ice cover is, on average, 22% lower than it was a half-century ago. Furthermore, ice coverage is becoming less reliable, with more frequent years of extremely low ice coverage. Based upon ice coverage charts from the NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab in Ann Arbor, ice cover on the five Great Lakes peaked at an average of 47% this winter (with shallow Lake Erie skewing the numbers upward with its 80% ice coverage…the other four Great Lakes all peaked at or below 50% ice cover). This compares to an average ice cover for all five lakes of 53% in the 1973-2020 time period. AdMore information: Great Lakes Ice Coverage is ShrinkingRelated:

We take pride in our Great Lakes, but do you know how they originally formed? Hint: It's ice cold.

LA SALLE TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Due of the ferocity of the Toledo Beach Marina fire this past week, the cause of the fire may never be determined, the La Salle Township fire chief said. Michigan State Police said it is estimated that the total loss is valued at more than $1 million. La Salle Township Fire Chief Randy Howe told Local 4 and ClickOnDetroit on Monday that the cause may never be determined because of the heat of the fire. Heavy equipment was brought in to move the debris which could affect determining a cause. Anyone with more information on the fire is asked to contact the Michigan State Police Tip Line at 1-800-442-7766.

LA SALLE, Mich. – Dozens of fire crews battled a three-alarm fire Friday Morning at the Toledo Beach Marina in La Salle. ORIGINAL STORY: Video: Large fire burns at Toledo Beach Marina in Monroe CountyDec. 7 update: Fire chief: Cause of Toledo Beach Marina fire may never be determinedThe fire was called in just before 7 a.m. By noon, firefighters were able to get some of the flames under control, but there was still significant smoke from the area. At one point, the smoke was so thick, the flashing emergency lights of first responders could barely be seen. An entire building filled with hundreds of boats was nearly destroyed on the shore of Lake Erie. Despite being on the shore of Lake Erie, crews were unable to get enough water to battle the fire properly.

LA SALLE, Mich. – Firefighters are on the scene of a three-alarm fire Friday at the Toledo Beach Marina in La Salle, Mich.Watch the video above showing the massive flames and thick smoke at the marina. Dec. 7 update: Fire chief: Cause of Toledo Beach Marina fire may never be determinedMonroe County Emergency Manager Mark Hammond said there have been no injuries reported, but hundreds, if not more, boats have been damaged or destroyed by the fire. Hammond said the biggest issue they face has been getting water to put out the fire because marinas like this one are meant for getting boats in the water, not for large trucks. They have been having a difficult time getting the fire trucks to a place where they can get water they can use. Here is a statement from the marina Friday morning, explaining all marina employees are safe and that an investigation into the cause is underway:“A fire occurred this morning at Safe Harbor Toledo Beach in LaSalle, Michigan.

DETROIT – A freighter that ran aground on the Detroit River has been freed Thursday. The U.S. Coast Guard tweeted that the the Harvest Spirit has been refloated and will undergo further inspection. The 500-foot freighter Harvest Spirit, aground in the Detroit River since Wednesday morning, was successfully refloated this afternoon and is safely anchored in U.S. waters while awaiting a thorough inspection. News release: https://t.co/uso2FQQpnp pic.twitter.com/L3X47zJDww — USCG Great Lakes (@USCGGreatLakes) December 4, 2020Shipping was routed to Detroit River’s Amherstburg Channel, east of Bois Blanc Island. The Detroit River is one of the busiest rivers for commercial shipping on the planet.

At least 84 waterspouts were recorded over the Great Lakes last week in the lakes first waterspout outbreak this year, researchers say. Connected to cumulus clouds, waterspouts on the Great Lakes are typically formed when cooler air travels across the warm waters -- and water temperatures in the Great Lakes have been higher than average this summer. Day 5 of the Great Waterspout Outbreak of 2020! @NWSCLE pic.twitter.com/UUhHDephhy ICWR (@ICWR) August 5, 2020The Great Waterspout Outbreak of 2020 Update. Things simmer down over the Great Lakes Wednesday afternoon https://t.co/vPDQst8PRP @NWSCLE @NWSBUFFALO #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/QYGz6XBYyJ ICWR (@ICWR) August 5, 2020During what ICWR is calling the Great Waterspout Outbreak of 2020, the center says a total of 42 waterspouts were recorded over the Great Lakes just on Wednesday alone.

Grand Haven, St. Joe, and Ludington in western Michigan are top places to get in on the action. The Pere Marquette stretches 66 miles and is from Baldwin to Ludington on Lake Michigan. Lake Erie is 50 miles of the best walleye lake in the world, and one of the top smallmouth waters in the country. In northeast Michigan, Hubbard Lake has smallmouth bass, walleye, northern pike, lake trout, whitefish, yellow perch, suckers and gar. Located in northwest Michigan, Burt Lake is 26 square miles of water that is filled will walleye, smallmouth bass, pike and trout.

A Flood Watch is in effect for Detroit and all of Southeast Michigan from 8 a.m. Sunday to 11 a.m. Monday. A Lakeshore Flood Warning is in effect for Macomb, Monroe and Wayne counties until 8 a.m. Tuesday. It gets milder, but more showers and thunderstorms will arrive. It will be cooler with afternoon temps in the low 60s. Remember to download the FREE Local4Casters weather app -- its easily one of the best in the nation.

SOUTH ROCKWOOD, Mich. – The body of a 6-year-old boy who was missing after a fishing trip with his father last month was found Friday, police said. A relative who was looking for Jaxon Oaks found a body in the Huron River. The body was identified as Jaxon after authorities pulled him from the water. Jaxon and his father, Justin Oaks, 29, left their home at about 9:45 a.m. on March 29 and launched their boat from the Downriver Marina and Campground in South Rockwood. and Justin Oaks’ body was found April 13 near the moth of Lake Erie

SOUTH ROCKWOOD, Mich. – The body of a father from the Downriver area, who went missing during a fishing trip with his son more than two weeks ago, has been discovered. UPDATE: Body of missing Downriver boy who disappeared during fishing trip found in Huron RiverJustin Oaks, 29, and his son, Jaxon, 6, left their home at about 9:45 a.m. on March 29 and launched their boat from the Downriver Marina and Campground in South Rockwood. Members of the Downriver Dive Team assembled and recovered the body from the river. The body was positively identified as Justin Oaks. Jaxon Oaks is still missing and is described as about 4 feet, 5 inches tall.

SOUTH ROCKWOOD, Mich. – Police are searching for a missing father and son after pulling the pair’s boat from the Huron River on Sunday. Flat Rock police, Brownstown police, Rockwood police, volunteers and the Great Lakes Water Recovery removed the boat from the river. A boat belonging to a missing father and son was pulled from the Huron River on April 5, 2020. He was last seen wearing a camouflage jacket. He was last seen wearing a tan vest and blue jeans.

MONROE, Mich. – An investigation is underway after a body was found on a beach Monday in Monroe. UPDATE: Body found along River Raisin in Monroe believed to be man involved in water incident last yearAccording to authorities, the body was found on East Elm Avenue, near I-75 and the Port of Monroe. A cause of death has not been released.

MONROE CHARTER TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A 51-year-old Taylor resident went missing Sunday after a boat capsized in Lake Erie, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said. During the search a 28-year-old Monroe resident was rescued and taken to ProMedica Hospital of Monroe to be treated for non-life threatening injuries. Officials say the boat was found upside down about a mile off shore tangled in a fishing net. It is unknown whether the Taylor resident was wearing a life jacket at the time the boat flipped over. The United States Coast Guard is still searching for the Taylor resident.

The victims have been identified as 50-year-old Jill Parrinello-Davey of Manchester and 48-year-old Darrin Gabbard of Allen Park. (WDIV)MONROE COUNTY, Mich. - Two people missing for a week after meeting online have been found dead in a car in Lake Erie in southeastern Michigan. A Monroe County sheriff's detective believes the driver might have been confused after leaving a bar and mistakenly drove the car into the lake off Toledo Beach marina. The victims have been identified as 50-year-old Jill Parrinello-Davey of Manchester and 48-year-old Darrin Gabbard of Allen Park. Copyright 2019 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.

It was 75 years ago this summer when allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy in Operation Overlord, also known as D-Day. Friday, that heroic invasion played out on the shores of Lake Erie.

ERIE TOWNSHIP, Mich. - Police are looking for a missing boater on Lake Erie. According to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, authorities were dispatched Saturday night to the Lost Peninsula Marina to assist the Morin Point Fire Department in searching for a man who had fallen out of a boat near Woodtick Peninsula. Police said the man was a passenger in a 16-foot aluminum boat that struck the wake of another boat, knocking him overboard. Authorities searched until after 1 a.m. Sunday but were unable to find him. The search resumed at 7 a.m. but was discontinued at about 2 p.m. with the man unaccounted for.

NOAA and its research partners are forecasting that western Lake Erie will experience a significant harmful algal bloom (HAB) this summer. Lake Erie blooms consist of cyanobacteria, also called blue-green algae, that are capable of producing the liver toxin microcystin that poses a risk to human and wildlife health. Calm winds in July, especially in western Lake Erie, tend to allow the algal toxins to concentrate, making blooms more harmful. This extremely wet spring has shed light on the movement of nutrients from the land into Lake Erie, said Christopher Winslow, Ph.D., director of Ohio Sea Grant and Stone Laboratory. Gathering data, refining modelsNOAA continues to expand the use of satellite data into its Lake Erie Harmful Algal Bloom Forecast System, which is helping improve the accuracy of bloom forecast products.

These mayflies come from the waters of Lake Erie. According to the Ohio Sea Grant research and education program. The swarm was so dense that it was captured on the weather radar of CNN affiliate WOIO on Wednesday. These mayflies come from the waters of Lake Erie. Residents may find them annoying, but the mayfly swarm is an indication of good water health in the Great Lakes, according to Ohio Sea Grant.