A dry spring across most of the Lake Superior watershed has slowed the big lake's annual summer rise, the International Lake Superior Board of Control reported Monday.
Superior rose by just an inch during June when it usually goes up 3 inches. The end-of-June level is 7 inches below the long-term level and 2 inches below the level at this time last year.
Duluth received less than a quarter-inch of rain Saturday and remains in a very dry period. The National Weather Service reports rainfall is 2.2 inches below normal for June while Duluth is 4.6 inches below normal since April 1.
Lakes Huron and Michigan, on the other hand, rose 2 inches in June, a half-inch more than usual. Those lakes are now just 5 inches below their long-term average and are 9 inches higher than at this time last year.
