By Jeff Kart
Dec 29, 2010
All but one of the Great Lakes is lower than at this time a year ago, and levels are expected to dip further in early 2011.
The basin has seen sunshine and snow in recent weeks. Temperatures have been at or below seasonal averages. According to the latest forecast, Lakes Superior and Michigan-Huron are 9 and 14 inches below their levels of Dec. 24, 2009.
Lake Erie is down by 7 inches from this time last year. Only Lake Ontario has seen a rise, of about 2 inches from last year.
Levels on all the lakes are due to decline over the next month, by 3 inches on Lake Superior, 2 inches on Michigan-Huron, and 1-2 inches on Lakes Erie and Ontario.
Ice on the lakes could mean higher water levels in the spring and summer, some experts say.
Ice conditions on the Great Lakes are tracked by agencies including Environment Canada. You can find various ice charts online at www.ice-glaces.ec.gc.ca.
The basin has seen sunshine and snow in recent weeks. Temperatures have been at or below seasonal averages. According to the latest forecast, Lakes Superior and Michigan-Huron are 9 and 14 inches below their levels of Dec. 24, 2009.
Lake Erie is down by 7 inches from this time last year. Only Lake Ontario has seen a rise, of about 2 inches from last year.
Levels on all the lakes are due to decline over the next month, by 3 inches on Lake Superior, 2 inches on Michigan-Huron, and 1-2 inches on Lakes Erie and Ontario.
Ice on the lakes could mean higher water levels in the spring and summer, some experts say.
Ice conditions on the Great Lakes are tracked by agencies including Environment Canada. You can find various ice charts online at www.ice-glaces.ec.gc.ca.