By IUGLS
May 13, 2011
Much like March, April precipitation was above-average in the Great Lakes basin. Also like March, the added supplies weren’t enough to push all the lakes above their long-term averages.
According to preliminary estimates from Environment Canada, April 2011 was a record high for precipitation in the Great Lakes basin, or 196 percent of average.
During April, Lake Erie saw the third-highest water supply increase on record for the month, based on data from 1900-2008. Lake Erie’s level rose by 26 centimeters, or about 10 inches in April, about twice its average spring rise.
Lakes Michigan-Huron, which are connected by the Straits of Mackinac, saw the sixth-wettest April on record. More moderate precipitation was recorded on Lake Ontario and Lake Superior, according to Environment Canada.
Lake Superior’s level rose by 10 centimeters (about 4 inches) in April, about 2 centimeters above its average rise for the spring season.
Lakes Michigan-Huron rose twice as much as Superior in April (20 centimeters), almost double the lakes’ average rise for this time of year.
Lake Ontario’s level rose by 31 centimeters during April, also above its average monthly rise of 20 centimeters.
At this time, the levels of Superior and Michigan-Huron are 2-3 inches lower (about 5-8 centimeters) than at this time a year ago, according to information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The levels of Erie and Ontario are 9-17 inches (23-43 centimeters) higher than at this time in 2010.
Since 1918, there have been only two years with a lower beginning of May level on Lake Superior, according to Environment Canada calculations. EC also reports that for the past three months, the net total water supply to the lakes has been above average. In particular, with respect to Lakes Michigan and Huron water supplies, that’s in stark contrast to the below average water supplies of the prior three months.
With average water supply conditions, the levels of all of the Great Lakes are expected to continue their typical spring rises in May.
During May, Lakes Superior and Michigan-Huron are expected to climb 4 inches (about 10 centimeters), according to Corps officials. Lakes Erie and Ontario are projected to remain steady.
The regulated outflow from Lake Superior will be higher this month than in April, but 26% below the long-term average outflow for the month of May.
According to preliminary estimates from Environment Canada, April 2011 was a record high for precipitation in the Great Lakes basin, or 196 percent of average.
During April, Lake Erie saw the third-highest water supply increase on record for the month, based on data from 1900-2008. Lake Erie’s level rose by 26 centimeters, or about 10 inches in April, about twice its average spring rise.
Lakes Michigan-Huron, which are connected by the Straits of Mackinac, saw the sixth-wettest April on record. More moderate precipitation was recorded on Lake Ontario and Lake Superior, according to Environment Canada.
Lake Superior’s level rose by 10 centimeters (about 4 inches) in April, about 2 centimeters above its average rise for the spring season.
Lakes Michigan-Huron rose twice as much as Superior in April (20 centimeters), almost double the lakes’ average rise for this time of year.
Lake Ontario’s level rose by 31 centimeters during April, also above its average monthly rise of 20 centimeters.
At this time, the levels of Superior and Michigan-Huron are 2-3 inches lower (about 5-8 centimeters) than at this time a year ago, according to information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The levels of Erie and Ontario are 9-17 inches (23-43 centimeters) higher than at this time in 2010.
Since 1918, there have been only two years with a lower beginning of May level on Lake Superior, according to Environment Canada calculations. EC also reports that for the past three months, the net total water supply to the lakes has been above average. In particular, with respect to Lakes Michigan and Huron water supplies, that’s in stark contrast to the below average water supplies of the prior three months.
With average water supply conditions, the levels of all of the Great Lakes are expected to continue their typical spring rises in May.
During May, Lakes Superior and Michigan-Huron are expected to climb 4 inches (about 10 centimeters), according to Corps officials. Lakes Erie and Ontario are projected to remain steady.
The regulated outflow from Lake Superior will be higher this month than in April, but 26% below the long-term average outflow for the month of May.