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Lake Michigan sets high water record

Photo by Dennis Grall Waves crash ashore recently off of Little Bay de Noc at Escanaba’s Sand Point. Lake Michigan recorded a record high water level in April and even higher levels are predicted in the coming months.

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — Lake Michigan and Lake Huron have broken water records as predicted, and the levels are expected to rise further in the coming months.

The new water level records for the two Great Lakes in April were 13.4 inches (34 centimeters) higher than last year at this time and almost 3 inches higher than the record set in 1986, the Traverse City Record-Eagle reported.

“Michigan-Huron is still in its period of seasonal rise, typically in the spring and early summer during increased precipitation and increased runoff,” said Deanna Apps, physical scientist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineersí Detroit District.

Mark Breederland, extension educator with nonprofit Michigan Sea Grant in Traverse City, has said this year would be a record year since 2019 when water levels were surging.

“The bathtub is full,” he noted, laughing.

Breederland said Lakes Michigan and Huron have set record mean water levels every month this year since January, and he expects it continue through July.

An additional 5 inches or 6 inches (15.24 centimeters) of water level increases on Lakes Michigan and Huron is expected before the anticipated peak in July, Corps projections show. It could be up 10 inches more.

Lakes St. Clair and Erie also broke April mean water level records set in 1986 and 1985, respectively, according to federal statistics.

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