The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has announced record high water levels are forecast on several of the Great Lakes over the next six months. Corps hydrologist Keith Kompoltowicz tells WSJM News new records are expected for Lakes Superior, St. Clair, and Erie. Lake Michigan is also expected to be high.
“Not quite a record high, but very high in terms of lake levels on Lake Michigan, some of the highest in recorded history; just not quite high enough to set records,” Kompoltowicz said.
Kompoltowicz says that high water level is expected to have an effect on land.
“We definitely see more instances of coastal and lakeshore flooding,” Kompoltowicz said. “As wave action breaks higher up on the shoreline, we see evidence of coastal erosion occurring much higher up on the shoreline.”
Kompoltowicz says local communities should pay attention to the weather forecast and winds, in particular, to be ready for any potential issues. He says a few years of wet winters and springs have contributed to the high Great Lakes water levels. You can find the full Army Corps of Engineers report right here.
