 Owing to the parks location relative to Erie , its climate is similar to that of the city . Erie and the peninsula are located in a snow belt that stretches from Cleveland to Syracuse and Watertown ; accordingly , its winters are typically cold , with heavy lake @-@ effect snow , but also with occasional stretches of mild weather that cause accumulated snow to melt . The Erie region lies in the humid continental zone ( Köppen Dfa ) . Presque Isle 's lakeside location helps to temper summer heat , with an average of only 3 @.@ 8 days of 90 ° F ( 32 ° C ) + highs annually , and the highest temperature ever recorded was 100 ° F ( 38 ° C ) on June 25 , 1988 ; there is an average of 2 @.@ 5 days with lows of 0 ° F ( − 18 ° C ) or colder annually , and the lowest temperature ever recorded was − 18 ° F ( − 28 ° C ) on January 19 , 1994 and February 16 , 2015 . Ice dunes typically form along the beaches in the winter from snowfall and frozen spray , and normally reach a height over 6 feet ( 1 @.@ 8 m ) . The dunes protect the beaches from erosion during winter storms , and continue growing until the surface of Lake Erie freezes in the winter . 
