Cooler Wednesday in the wake of Tuesday’s 80°+ warmth; Great Lakes water levels drop

Damaging thunderstorm winds gusts sweep through parts of the Hawkeye State

While nothing substantial, temperatures dip closer to normal overall in the 6-10 day temperature outlook followed by a another significant warm-up the final week of April 2024

6-10 day temperature outlook

11-15 day temperature outlook

LACK OF GREAT LAKE ICE and lower than normal Great Lakes drainage basin precipitation contributed to decreased lake levels

By Tom Skilling

This past winter’s LACK OF GREAT LAKE ICE and lower than normal Great Lakes drainage basin precipitation has contributed to the decreased lake levels noted in the report included with the graphics below from the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.

Maximum Great Lakes ice coverage this year came in at under 3%—40% has been the average with much higher coverage in some years. On average, Great Lakes ice coverage has been decreasing close to 5% per decade over the term of full lake observations which began with satellite assistance in 1973.

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