A drier than normal April was good news for Lake Superior’s shoreline with the big lake moving away from record levels for a change.
Lake Superior rose less than an inch in April — a month it usually goes up 3 inches. The lake's water level now sits 5 inches below the record May 1 level set in 1986, the International Lake Superior Board of Control reported Friday.
Lake Superior sits 12 inches above normal for this time of year but 5 inches below the May 1 level last year.
“Nonetheless, an exceptional volume of water remains in the system,’’ the board reported. “Water levels are expected to remain high over at least the next several months and further record-highs are possible if wet conditions return. As a result, there will continue to be a significantly increased risk of shoreline erosion, lakeshore flooding and coastal damages over the next several months.”
Lakes Michigan-Huron rose 2 inches in April, compared to the usual 4-inch climb, and now sits 10 inches higher than last year on May 1 and 35 inches above the long-term average. The lakes still set a new record for May 1, 4 inches higher than the previous record set in 1986.
