It's official, Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair have broken record lake levels.
The Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) said Lake St. Clair surpassed the previous all-time high monthly mean level set in October of 1986 by approximately three centimetres, while Lake Erie surpassed the established all-time high monthly mean level just set in May of 2019 by nine centimetres.
ERCA said lake levels for Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie rose by approximately 10 centimetres and 9 centimetres, respectively, from May to June.
These levels have extended a flood watch initially issued on May 30 until July 16. The conservation authority said there continues to be an elevated risk of flooding and erosion along the shores of Lake Erie, including Pelee Island, Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River because of strong wind.
"Elevated lake levels are also causing downstream reaches of major tributaries to remain elevated and in some cases, local rivers and creeks have spilled into low-lying areas impacting private property and some roadways," said ERCA on Tuesday afternoon.
ERCA added Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie typically peak during the months of June or July but even with the potential for lake levels to drop through the summer and fall, levels are still anticipated to be at or near record highs.
"The region should be prepared for equal to or greater than 1986 water levels throughout the remainder of 2019," added ERCA.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Detroit is projecting that Lake St. Clair will have no net change in lake level by July 28 while Lake Erie is projected to see a net decrease of 10 centimetres by this time next month.
