Post by ppat324 on Mar 8, 2011 7:04:53 GMT -5
3/8 - Detroit, Mich. – Boaters on the Great Lakes will see lower water levels than the previous year throughout this summer season, according to the latest projections.
Forecasters with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers expect each of the lakes, with the exception of Lake Ontario, to be lower than in 2010 — this despite the near record-breaking snows that have pummeled southeast Michigan this winter.
The lower levels are result of Lake Superior receiving less snow than usual this season combined with low rainfall last spring. Each of the lakes, however, will remain several inches above the all-time lows.
That might be hard for some who live along Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair River to believe right now. A massive ice jam near Algonac has helped drive down water levels to the south over the past two months. That should begin to change soon.
"Within the next few weeks, we should start to see the lakes begin their seasonal rise as a result of the melting snow and the increased rainfall we expect to see in spring," said Keith Kompoltowicz, a meteorologist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Detroit. "By August, most of the lakes will be slightly short of where they were last year."
The seemingly constant snows that have hit Metro Detroit this winter will have little payoff come summer time. Typically, heavy precipitation bolsters the snowpack in the Lake Superior region that collects during winter and melts in the spring. But much of the snow that hit Michigan this year has fallen south of Lake Superior.
For the summer, that means: Lake Superior will be 13-15 inches below last year, and up to 13 inches below the historical average.
Lake Michigan/Huron will be 7-12 inches below last year and up to 22 inches below the historical average.
Lake St. Clair will be seven inches below 2010, and a foot below its historical average.
Lake Erie will be 6 inches below last year's average and the historical average.
Lake Ontario, while being a few inches above last year's level, will be 1-8 inches below the historical average.
The Detroit News
Forecasters with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers expect each of the lakes, with the exception of Lake Ontario, to be lower than in 2010 — this despite the near record-breaking snows that have pummeled southeast Michigan this winter.
The lower levels are result of Lake Superior receiving less snow than usual this season combined with low rainfall last spring. Each of the lakes, however, will remain several inches above the all-time lows.
That might be hard for some who live along Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair River to believe right now. A massive ice jam near Algonac has helped drive down water levels to the south over the past two months. That should begin to change soon.
"Within the next few weeks, we should start to see the lakes begin their seasonal rise as a result of the melting snow and the increased rainfall we expect to see in spring," said Keith Kompoltowicz, a meteorologist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Detroit. "By August, most of the lakes will be slightly short of where they were last year."
The seemingly constant snows that have hit Metro Detroit this winter will have little payoff come summer time. Typically, heavy precipitation bolsters the snowpack in the Lake Superior region that collects during winter and melts in the spring. But much of the snow that hit Michigan this year has fallen south of Lake Superior.
For the summer, that means: Lake Superior will be 13-15 inches below last year, and up to 13 inches below the historical average.
Lake Michigan/Huron will be 7-12 inches below last year and up to 22 inches below the historical average.
Lake St. Clair will be seven inches below 2010, and a foot below its historical average.
Lake Erie will be 6 inches below last year's average and the historical average.
Lake Ontario, while being a few inches above last year's level, will be 1-8 inches below the historical average.
The Detroit News