DULUTH, Minn. - Lake Superior rose farther above normal in December and now sits 9 inches above its normal Jan. 1 level, the International Lake Superior Board of Control reported Monday.
The big lake is 11 inches higher than it was on Jan. 1, 2014, and saw its highest December average level since 1996.
Lake Superior dropped 2 inches in December, a month the lake usually drops 3 inches. That lower-than-usual decline comes as December was the 11th consecutive month with above-normal water supply to the big lake, which continues its record-breaking rise from below-normal to well-above-normal water levels.
Lakes Michigan-Huron have been rising even faster, and now sit 9 inches above their normal Jan. 1 level and a whopping 23 inches higher than Jan. 1, 2014. The level of the lakes remained the same in December, a month they usually drop 2 inches.
The higher water levels have helped the Great Lakes shipping industry recover from a slow start to the season last spring by allowing freighters to carry heavier loads. The shipping season will end Jan. 15 when the Soo Locks close for the winter.
