LEVELnews
Great Lakes–St. Lawrence River Water Levels
Volume 21, Number 2
15 February 2013
Michigan–Huron Sets Two New Record Lows in January 2013
Despite a late-month increase in its water level due to rain and runoff, provisional data indicates that Lake Michigan–Huron has set a new record low level for the month of January. The lake’s January 2013 monthly mean level was 3 cm lower than the previous low for the month set in 1965. In addition, the January 2013 level was lower than any other month on record since 1918, being 1 cm lower than the previous record low monthly mean level for the lake set in March of 1964.
- Lake Superior’s level fell by 4 cm during January, 3 cm less than its average January decline of 7 cm.
- The monthly average level of Lake Michigan–Huron fell 4 cm from December 2012 to January 2013, which brought the lake to a new record low monthly mean level for January. However, precipitation which occurred towards the end of January returned the end-of-month water level to just 1 cm lower than at the start of that month. This is less than the lake’s average January decrease of 3 cm.
- Lake Erie fell by 1 cm during January, an amount equal to its average January decline.
- Lake Ontario’s level rose by 13 cm during January, much more than its average January increase of 5 cm.
- Montreal Harbour’s monthly mean level in January was 34 cm higher than the harbour’s monthly mean level in December. Although levels in the harbour have increased, the January level was still 75 cm below the average for the month.
| Lake | Compared to Monthly Average (1918–2011) | Compared to One Year Ago |
|---|---|---|
| Superior | 34 cm below | 2 cm below |
| Michigan–Huron | 73 cm below | 42 cm below |
| St. Clair | 32 cm below | 50 cm below |
| Erie | 17 cm below | 57 cm below |
| Ontario | 18 cm below | 42 cm below |
| Lake | Compared to Beginning-of-Month Average (1918–2011) | Compared to One Year Ago |
|---|---|---|
| Superior | 31 cm below | Same |
| Michigan–Huron | 69 cm below | 39 cm below |
| St. Clair | 21 cm below | 49 cm below |
| Erie | 18 cm below | 62 cm below |
| Ontario | 13 cm below | 50 cm below |
Water Level Forecast
Relative to their beginning-of-February levels and assuming average water supply conditions, the levels of lakes Superior, Michigan–Huron and St. Clair are expected to decline in February, while the levels of lakes Erie and Ontario are expected to rise slightly. Montreal Harbour's monthly mean level in February is expected to rise compared to its January level.
For a graphical representation of recent and forecasted water levels on each of the Great Lakes and Lake St. Clair compared to their respective period-of-record monthly averages and extreme levels, please refer to the January 2013 edition of the Canadian Hydrographic Service’s monthly water levels bulletin.
Bulletin’s Naming Convention
Each month, LEVELnews directs its readers to the Canadian Hydrographic Service’s monthly water levels bulletin (the bulletin) for the latest six-month water level forecast. For example, this month’s issue points to the January 2013 edition. This naming convention is used to indicate that the water level data documented in the bulletin includes recorded water level data up to and including, January 2013. The bulletin covering each month is produced and posted on the internet by the Canadian Hydrographic Service early in the month following the month covered by the bulletin.
| Lake | % |
|---|---|
| Great Lakes Basin | 126% |
| Lake Superior | 78% |
| Lakes Michigan–Huron | 161% |
| Lake Erie (including Lake St. Clair) | 123% |
| Lake Ontario | 94% |
| Lake | % |
|---|---|
| Lake Superior | 81% |
| Lakes Michigan–Huron | 95% |
| Lake Erie | 100% |
| Lake Ontario | 94% |
*As a percentage of the long-term January average.
Note: These figures are preliminary.
For more information:
Chuck Southam (Editor)
Boundary Water Issues Unit
MSC - Operations Ontario
Environment Canada
P.O. Box 5050
Burlington ON L7R 4A6
Tel.: 905-336-4955
Fax: 905-336-8901
Email: water.levels@ec.gc.ca
Jacob Bruxer
Great Lakes–St. Lawrence Regulation Office
MSC - Operations Ontario
Environment Canada
111 Water Street East
Cornwall ON K6H 6S2
Tel.: 613-938-5725
- Date Modified: