Cold temperatures
and snow were experienced last weekend and the beginning of this past week, followed
by above average temperatures across the Great Lakes basin.Weekend temperatures are expected to remain
above seasonal averages, and little precipitation is anticipated.The past month saw above average
precipitation across the southern Great Lakes basin, while the Lake Superior
basin had below average precipitation.
LAKE LEVEL CONDITIONS
Currently, Lake
Superior is 1 inch above its level of a year ago and Lake Michigan-Huron is 7
inches higher than it was last year.Lakes
St. Clair, Erie, and Ontario are 20, 26, and 20 inches, respectively, higher
than they were at this time last year.Over the next thirty days, Lake Superior is projected to drop 2 inches
from its current level, while Lake Michigan-Huron is projected to remain steady.The water levels of Lakes St. Clair, Erie,
and Ontario are forecasted to increase 1, 1, and 1 inch, respectively, over
the next month.See our Daily Levels web page for more water level information.
FORECASTED MONTHLY
OUTFLOWS/CHANNEL CONDITIONS
Lake Superior's outflow through the St. Marys
River is projected to be below average for the month of February.Lake Huron's outflow into the St. Clair
River and the outflow from Lake St. Clair into the Detroit River are expected
to be near average throughout the month of February.Lake Erie's outflow through the Niagara
River and the outflow of Lake Ontario into the St. Lawrence River are both
predicted to be above average in February.
ALERTS
The water levels of Lakes Superior and
Michigan-Huron are below chart datum, and are forecasted to remain below
chart datum over the next several months.Users of the Great Lakes, connecting channels and St. Lawrence River
should keep informed of current conditions before undertaking any activities
that could be affected by changing water levels.Mariners should utilize navigation charts
and refer to current water level readings.Ice information can be found at the National Ice Center's website.
SUPERIOR
MICH-HURON
ST. CLAIR
ERIE
ONTARIO
Forecasted Water Level for Feb 3, 2012 (feet)
600.33
577.36
574.25
572.21
245.96
Chart Datum (feet)
601.10
577.50
572.30
569.20
243.30
Difference from chart datum (inches)
-9
-2
+23
+36
+32
Difference from average water level for Jan 3, 2012 (inches*)
-3
-1
0
0
+10
Difference from average water level for Feb 3, 2011 (inches*)
+1
+7
+20
+26
+20
Difference from long-term monthly average of Feb (inches)
-11
-12
+9
+17
+15
Difference from highest monthly average of record for Feb
(inches)
-26
-44
-30
-15
-12
Year of highest recorded monthly mean
1986
1986
1986
1987
1952
Difference from lowest monthly average of record for Feb
(inches)
+9
+15
+45
+48
+47
Year of lowest recorded monthly mean
1926
1964
1926
1936
1936
Projected change in levels by Mar 3, 2012 (inches)
-2
0
+1
+1
+1
ALL DATA SHOWN IN THIS SUMMARY ARE REFERENCED TO IGLD 1985
*VALUES FOR SPECIFIC DAY ARE BASED ON 3-DAY DAILY AVERAGE
AROUND SPECIFIED DATE
