Pier under water: Lake Michigan water levels rise yet again
Another week, another increase in the water level of Lake Michigan.
The latest update from the US Army Corps of Engineers reveals that water levels on all of the Great Lakes rose again. While the rise from June 21st to June 28th wasn't extreme, it was another rise we didn't need.
HIGH LAKE MICHIGAN:
— Tyler Sebree (@TylerABC57) July 2, 2019
Lake Michigan-Huron is way above where it should be. It will likely have a new average record high level when all data are considered. The water is so high that it rushes over the south pier in St. Joseph even with minimal wind and waves.#MIwx #LakeMichigan pic.twitter.com/NomrcGlCB5
The water is so high that many piers and jetties are intermittently going under water. This is happening even on days with little to no wave action or wind. That's what the video above from Nathan Voytovick shows.
Waves were a foot or less today, and wind was less than 10 m.p.h.. Despite this, the south pier at Silver Beach was submerged on and off.
So how high is Lake Michigan exactly?
The most recent forecast level was 581.96 feet back on June 28th. That's about an inch higher than the level back on June 21st. It's also five inches higher than the average water level from May 28th, and 15 inches higher than the average water level from June 28th of 2018.
Lake Michigan-Huron is also two inches higher than the highest monthly record of average for June. Based on the reports throughout June, we could certainly have a new record for month-long average lake levels for the month. That would break the record set back in 1986!
We will know whether or not a record was broken once all of the data are analyzed. Looking ahead, Lake Michigan-Huron is expected to rise another inch by July 28th!
This means additional beach erosion, coastal flooding, dangerous swimming conditions, and submerged piers and jetties are likely to continue along all Lake Michigan beaches.