This article is from Mlive by Mark Torregrossa

Lake St. Clair water jumps one foot, now at record high water levels

By: Mark Torregrossa for Mlive

Lake St. Clair is now at the highest level it has ever been recorded at in May.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports Lake St. Clair’s water level went up 12 inches in the past month.

This rapid rise in water levels now puts Lake St. Clair four inches higher than it has ever been recorded in May.

The previous May record water level on Lake St. Clair was set in 1986.

Lake St. Clair is also 11 inches higher than this time last year.

Just in the first 10 days of May, Lake St. Clair’s water level has increased two inches. That’s a lot of water gained in just one third of a month.

Properties near the Lake St. Clair shoreline are vulnerable to flooding due to the record high water levels.

And Lake St. Clair’s water level at any spot along the shoreline is highly dependent on wind direction and wind speed.

Strong east, northeast or southeast winds will greatly increase the water level on the Michigan side of Lake St. Clair.

Fortunately we are getting out of the season when east-northeast winds can be strong. In May, and especially the summer months, strong northeast winds are rare.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is forecasting Lake St. Clair to go down one inch in the next month.

However, I should point out the Corps of Engineers’ forecast for May water levels was too low by seven inches. The water forecasts tend to use an average rainfall scenario. We all know many times the rain amounts are not near average.