DETROIT — Water levels in 3 of the Great Lakes remained at record highs in the month of April.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Detroit District reported Friday that Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, and Lake Erie all set new monthly mean highs. Lake St. Clair, sometimes known as the "sixth Great Lake" also set a new level record.
Lake Michigan and Lake Huron averaged 581.69 feet, measured from sea level up to the water's surface. Lake Michigan and Lake Huron are measured using one standard, since the two are connected by the Straits of Mackinac. The lakes are 3 inches higher than the previous record set in 1986, 13 inches above the level recorded in 2019, and 3 feet above the average.
Lake Erie rose to more than 574 feet in April, besting the record set in 1986 by 4 inches. The southern-most Great Lake is 32 inches above it's monthly average, and 9 inches higher than last year.
Lake St. Clair set a new record of 577 feet, gaining 3 inches in the past month.
Lake Superior and Lake Ontario did not set new records in April, but both were more than a foot higher than their average level.
Records for lake levels date back to 1918.
According to the Army Corps of Engineers, all 4 lakes are expected to remain above record levels well into the summer. The first month when a new record is not expected to be set is August.
Forecast models show all of the Great Lakes should remain well above their long term average.
