Despite warming temperatures, Lake Michigan and other Great Lakes water levels remain below last year’s, raising navigation and shoreline concerns.

Cool Spring Slows Seasonal Rise Across Great Lakes Basin

The latest update from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Detroit District, issued May 30, 2025, confirms that Lake Michigan-Huron water levels are lagging behind last year’s totals despite a modest spring rise. The lake sits 9 inches below its 2024 level and 5 inches under the long-term May average, signaling ongoing challenges for commercial navigation, recreational boating, and shoreline management.

Temperatures across the basin were 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit below average, with near-freezing conditions in Duluth. The cooler weather and limited rainfall, less than an inch in most areas, contributed to sluggish runoff and delayed lake level increases.

Lake Michigan-Huron Water Levels Still Below Historical Norms

Water levels for Lake Michigan-Huron reached 578.71 feet as of May 30. This marks a 2-inch rise over the previous month, but a sharp contrast from highs recorded in 2020, when levels were 39 inches higher in May.

The Corps projects only a 2-inch gain through the end of June, indicating muted seasonal improvement. This could affect Michigan’s boating season and require careful monitoring by port authorities, marina operators, and shoreline communities along Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.

Mixed Trends Across the Great Lakes Water Levels – Ontario Up, Superior Still Lagging

Huron-Michigan Great Lakes Water Levels May 2025 — Lakes Huron-Michigan Water Levels May 2025

While Lake Ontario is up 5 inches over last year, Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, and Erie are all below 2024 levels. In contrast, Lakes St. Clair, Erie, and Ontario are above their long-term May averages by 4 to 6 inches, offering some stability to downstream flows.

Only Lake Ontario is expected to rise slightly by 1 inch in the coming month. Meanwhile, Lake Erie is projected to drop by 1 inch, while Lake St. Clair will hold steady.

Outflows Signal Regional Variations in Water Management

Forecasted outflows reflect shifting conditions. The Corps reports that:

Lake Superior’s outflow through the St. Marys River is below average
Lake Michigan-Huron’s outflow via the St. Clair River is above average
Lake Erie’s Niagara River outflow is also above average
Lake Ontario’s St. Lawrence River flow is near average

These changes directly affect hydropower, shipping, and flood risk throughout the Great Lakes system. For Michigan, the Detroit and St. Clair rivers play key roles in regulating water levels and maintaining navigable channels.

Boaters and Shoreline Residents Urged to Monitor Conditions

The Corps continues to caution that water levels vary by location due to meteorological factors, including wind and pressure. Mariners are urged to rely on updated navigation charts and check local readings regularly. Data from the NOAA Center for Operational Oceanic Products and Services and the National Ice Center provide further resources.

Water Levels Reflect Long-Term Trends in Climate and Infrastructure

The long-term record—spanning 1918 to 2023—underscores how climate variability, rainfall patterns, and human management affect lake levels. This month’s readings show lakes are well above record lows set in the 1920s and 1930s but remain well below highs from 2017–2020.

Lake Michigan’s record low May level was set in 1964, and this year’s reading is 26 inches higher, showing that while current levels are manageable, fluctuations continue to challenge water resource planning.

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