Valentine’s Day, February 14, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, determined that Lake St. Clair and the Great Lakes were above their long term monthly averages and were also above their average water levels observed last year on Valentine’s Day.
The Army Corps of Engineers predict that Lake Superior will decline by one inch by March 14. That continues a trend. Lake Superior water levels have fallen two inches since December 2019.
While Lake Superior sheds water, Lake Michigan and Lake Huron are expected to rise one inch, Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie two inches, and Lake Ontario will rise three inches in the next month.
On February 14 the Corps determined the Lake Superior water level to be 602.56 feet. That’s three inches higher than the February 14, 2019, reading for Lake Superior.
Lake Superior’s lowest monthly average was recorded in 1926 when the lake was 19 inches below datum. Datum is a fixed reference point. The lake is currently 0.10 inch below datum. The highest monthly average for Lake Superior was recorded in February 1986 when the lake was one inch higher than it is now.
Water levels are expected to remain at or near record levels for the next few months and if we have a wet spring, there is a good possibility of lakeshore flooding and coastal damage.
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