Weather conditions:
Hot and humid conditions were present in the Great Lakes basin this week. Temperatures reached the 90 degree mark in many places on Wednesday and Thursday. A stubborn frontal system also touched off several rounds of thunderstorms as it interacted with the hot and humid air mass. The front will linger in the Great Lakes for the weekend, leading to more showers and thunderstorms. Heavy rain is a good bet as storms will be slow moving. Unsettled weather is expected to linger into next week.
Lake Level Conditions:
Presently, all of the Great Lakes remain higher than they were at this time last year. Lake Superior is 15 inches above last year's level while lakes Michigan-Huron and St. Clair are 7 inches higher than they were a year ago. Lakes Erie and Ontario are 8 inches and 9 inches, respectively, higher than they were last year. Lake Superior is projected to rise 1 inch over the next 30 days, while Lake Michigan-Huron is predicted to remain around the same level. Lakes St. Clair, Erie, and Ontario, however are forecasted to fall 3 to 5 inches during the next month. All of the Great Lakes are expected to remain above their water levels of a year ago over the next few months.
Current outflows / channel conditions:
In June, outflow through the St. Mary's, St. Clair, and Detroit Rivers was below average. Niagara River's outflow was near average, while outflow from the St. Lawrence River was above average.
Alerts:
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.
SUPERIOR HURON ST. CLAIR ERIE ONTARIO
Expected
water lvl for 601.7 578.2 574.5 572.0 246.4
July 18th
in feet
Chart datum, 601.1 577.5 572.3 569.2 243.3
in feet
Difference from
chart datum, +8 +9 +26 +34 +37
in inches
Difference from
June 18, 2008, +4 +2 +2 +1 -4
in inches*
Difference from
July 18, 2007, +15 +7 +7 +8 +9
in inches*
Difference from
long-term monthly -4 -14 -4 +2 +4
average level for
July, in inches
Difference from
highest recorded -16 -45 -33 -26 -22
monthly mean lvl (1950) (1986) (1986) (1986) (1947)
for July, in inches
Difference from
lowest recorded +18 +18 +24 +36 +37
monthly mean lvl (1926) (1964) (1934) (1934) (1934)
for July, in inches
Projected change in
levels by Aug. 18, +1 0 -3 -4 -5
2008, in inches
ALL DATA SHOWN IN THIS SUMMARY REFERENCED TO IGLD 1985
*VALUES FOR SPECIFIC DAY ARE BASED ON 3-DAY AVERAGE AROUND SPECIFIED DATE
Further Information: Please visit the following web sites for more detailed information:
http://www.lre.usace.army.mil/glhh
http://www.ijc.org
http://www.lre.usace.army.mil/Storage/HH/IJC/Superior/index.shtml
http://www.islrbc.org/
http://www.great-lakes.net/envt/water/levels/hydro.html
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