Water levels on the Great Lakes normally decline in the fall months, but that doesn't mean relief from higher-than-average water levels.
Lakes Michigan and Huron saw some of the highest water levels in recorded history this summer, peaking in July. Although they are supposed to drop several inches by February, the lakes are expected to remain two-and-a-half to three feet above the long-term average.
Keith Kompoltowicz of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says this is a concerning way to start the season.
"The levels even with the declines are gonna remain very high compared to average for this time of year," he says. "Impacts like shoreline erosion and coastal flooding could be significant, especially when we get the fall storms that we typically see in the lakes."
Those strong fall storms are often accompanied by high winds and waves.
"So, on the shorelines, the increased wave action will continue to contribute to erosion," says Kompoltowicz. "Anytime you get an on-shore wind, that essentially pushes water up onto the shoreline and can cause significant flooding depending on the topography of the area."
The Army Corps' full forecast can be found on their website.