Lake Erie was at record levels in 2019. Where things stand, and a forecast, 5 years later.
Lake Erie water levels are slightly above average midway through July but a far cry from the record levels reached a few years ago.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers forecasts that water levels will fall in the coming months, but July is seeing an uptick from June.
February: What low ice levels on the water this winter mean for Lake Erie and its ecosystem
The average levels are measured off a network of gauges located around the Great Lakes.
From July 1 to July 15, the water levels in Lake Erie were at a minimum of 572.83 feet and a maximum of 573.03 feet.
These levels were above those that were reported in June and above the average level for July, 572.01 feet.
June saw a minimum depth of 572.80 feet and a maximum depth of 573 feet. The levels were 10 inches above the June long-term average.
August 2023: Lake Erie water level resuming seasonal decline but still above average
Bottom line: Lake Erie is not showing any significant increase or decrease from average water levels.
Five years earlier it was a different case. Lake Erie this June was 20 inches below the record levels recorded in June 2019.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports that Lake Erie water saw an average level of 572.90 feet in June.
The highest water level Lake Erie recorded in any month of July was in 2019, 574.57 feet. The lowest water level for July was in 1934, 569.06 feet.
The lake's average depth is 62 feet, while the maximum depth is 210 feet. Water levels are the measured height of water above or below a reference point.
More: How are homes and properties along Lake Erie being saved from falling into the water?
What is the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers?
The Army Corps collects and disseminates water level data along with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Canadian Hydrographic Service.
The USACE Detroit District compiles Great Lakes water level information with data that spans back to 1918 to the current month with future predictions.
How deep is Lake Erie?: How was it named? Facts about the Great Lake and its cousins
What's ahead for Lake Erie water levels?
The U.S. Army Corp. of Engineers forecasts that Lake Erie will begin a seasonal decline this month.
Over the next six months, the water levels are likely to match the levels recorded in July 2023. The levels will then possibly decline 3 inches to 6 inches below the levels recorded in 2023 from August to December.
The water levels are forecast to remain 6 inches to 10 inches above the long-term average and will be 19 inches to 28 inches below the record levels.
Here are the water level forecasts for Lake Erie from the U.S. Army Corps for the next five months:
July: upper levels 573.1 feet, lower levels 572.37 feet.
August: upper levels 572.9 feet, lower levels 571.98 feet.
September: upper levels 572.64 feet, lower levels 571.59 feet.
October: upper levels 572.37 feet, lower levels 571.13 feet.
November: upper levels 572.24, lower levels 570.8 feet.
Contact Nicholas Sorensen at nsorensen@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: What are Lake Erie water levels in Pa. 5 years after record highs?
