Great Lakes water levels reaching peaks for the year

By: 
NEW Media Staff

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says each of the Great Lakes, except Lake Superior, have likely reached their peak water levels for the year and are predicted to decline — but that doesn’t mean concerns about high water will be over anytime soon.

Lakes Michigan-Huron set another new monthly mean record high water level in July. The Corps’ most recent forecast projects that Michigan-Huron, which is considered one lake in the forecasts, will slowly drop the rest of the year; however, it’s likely a new record high will be set for August before the level drops back below record highs in September.

Water levels on Lakes St. Clair, Erie and Ontario all continued to decline last month, with no new records set on those lakes in July. The water level of Lake Superior is expected to peak this month before entering its period of typical seasonal decline.

“While we expect water levels to decline across most of the Great Lakes, levels still remain extremely high,” said John Allis, chief of the Great Lakes Hydraulics and Hydrology Office, Detroit District.

With the continued high water on many of the lakes, and the approaching active fall storm period, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers urges those impacted by the high water levels last fall to be preparing for similar or worse impacts over the next few months.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, activated its Emergency Operations Center May 2019 in response to high water on the Great Lakes. July 2020 marks more than 450 consecutive days of providing support.