Lighthouse coated in ice on Lake Erie

CLEVELAND - High winds and subzero temperatures have caused crashing waves to turn the Cleveland Harbor West Pierhead Lighthouse into a larger than life ice sculpture.

The above photos were taken on Tuesday afternoon by U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Lauren Jorgensen.

Early this week, across all of the Great Lakes, a combination of high winds, cold temperatures and waves have caused area lighthouses and other navigation aids to freeze.

While the sight is breathtaking...it's also a potentially dangerous situation.

Coast Guard units have since issued warnings to mariners that the ice may reduce or completely obscure aids to navigation as the ice coating of the structures and their lights in multiple layers makes it impossible for mariners to see the lights or distinguish their color.