The great lakes help the ice along here in Michigan. The super cold air and lake effect snow from the Lakes really helps alot but if the wet heavy lake effect snow gets to much it can insulate the ice from further freezing and adds considerable weight. Not good for people like me who are going crazy waiting on the ice...
We've got plenty of lakes here in CO with safe ice, some lakes in the mountains already have 6-8"+. Hopefully the metro area will get some by the end of the year.