Lake Michigan water level drops as warm, dry pattern carries on

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Warm and dry weather has been prevalent through the middle of September and that’s resulting in changes to the water level on Lake Michigan.

The combination of sunshine and above average temperatures is contributing to increased evaporation out of the Great Lakes. Meanwhile, there hasn’t been much replenishment of water into Lake Michigan with minimal amounts of rainfall in recent weeks. Grand Rapids, for instance, has only received 0.26 inches of measurable rain during the month of September.

The water level in Lake Michigan has dropped by 4 inches over the past month and, according to the Army Corps of Engineers, the level will drop an additional 3 inches by Oct. 6.

The current level is 4 inches above the September long-term average, but 2 inches below where it was at this same time in 2023. The trend favors levels to continue sinking into early 2025.

The Climate Prediction Center’s outlook for the month has a high probability of drier-than-normal conditions persisting through the remainder of September.

There are no substantial rain chances in the eight-day forecast.

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