If you live on the water or have visited a beach along Lake Michigan lately, you have probably noticed a significant drop in water levels. Due to the extreme lack of precipitation this fall, Lake Michigan's water levels have steeply declined over the past few months.
According to the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, water levels drop in fall and early winter "due to increased evaporation as temperatures decline and cold air moves over the relatively warm lake waters.
U.S. Army Corp of Engineers Chief of Hydraulics Keith Kompoltowicz says while the levels have dropped significantly in the last four or five years, they're not quite to a place where we would call them low yet. They're near average, and that's just simply because it's been so dry, especially recently.”
Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, which share the same basin, were at 578.48 feet on November 15, about two inches lower than last month. The lake levels are expected to drop another two inches by mid-December.
Lake Michigan saw water levels rise to record highs in 2020 after a record low was recorded in 2013.
