Lake Superior now expected to stay near average after years of high water

After more than seven years with above average water levels, Lake Superior has now remained slightly below average for an entire month.

The International Lake Superior Board of Control’s monthly update says the lake is now 1.6 inches (4 centimeters) below the long-term average water level after declining 2 inches (5 centimeters) in September. The lake normally begins its seasonal decline in September, but the average decline for the month is only 0.8 inches (2 centimeters).

A separate monthly forecast issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers predicts that the lake’s water level will remain near average to slightly below average over the next six months as the lake continues is normal winter decline.

While all of the Great Lakes have seen below-average precipitation over the last year, Lake Superior is the only one to decline to below-average levels. Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, and Lake Erie continue to have above-average water levels, while Lake Ontario has gone from slightly below-average to slightly above-average levels.