PHOTO BY RAED MANOUR
Although summers usually mean water levels are at their highest, Lake Michigan-Huron (recorded as one lake), Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair all posted record high water levels in May.
According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ “May 2020 Great Lakes Water Level Summary,” Lakes Michigan-Huron, St. Clair and Erie surpassed their previous records by 4, 4 and 1 inches, respectively, which were set in 1986 on Lake Michigan-Huron, and last year on Lakes St. Clair and Erie.
While Lake Michigan-Huron is expected to continue rising this summer, the six-month forecast for the other lakes, announced by the USACE on June 19, is more promising. Lake Superior is expected to drop 3-7 inches below record highs through November; Lake St. Clair is predicted to be an inch below highs in June, around 2 inches below highs in July through September and around 9 inches below highs in October and November; Lake Erie is forecasted to be 2-4 inches below highs in June through September, then around 9 inches below highs in October and November; and Lake Ontario is expected to be around 23 inches below record highs.
To see the full reports, visit lre.usace.army.mil.
