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Weather and Climate of the Great Lakes Region What's New | Overview | Comprehensive Resources | Current Conditions Education | Forecasts | Historical Conditions | Ice | Storms and Winds Related Resources 
What's New COMMENTARY: Low lake levels: don't fight nature, plan for it National Geographic (3/22) With record low Great Lakes water levels in the news, Dr. Philip Wilink of the Shedd Aquarium, shares his thoughts on what these fluctuations mean for all of us–people and animals–who rely on the Great Lakes. Climate change leading to more snow? (3/20) What impact is climate change having on the Great Lakes region? One impact may be increased lake-effect snow, according to "Sensitivity of Lake-effect Snowfall to Lake Ice Cover and Temperature in the Great Lakes Region," a recent paper authored by a University of Michigan doctoral student in the Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences program. Center seeks information on Great Lakes waterspouts after record reports Great Lakes Echo (3/19) Last year there were more reported sightings of waterspouts on the Great Lakes than ever before. There were 186 reports of waterspouts in 2012, shattering the previous record of 94 spouts in 2003. Niagara Escarpment, Lake Michigan keep things breezy in Door County Door County Daily News (3/14) It is windy a lot in Door County. Assistant State Climatologist Ed Hopkins helps explain how windy, as well as why. Spring rain, then foul algae in ailing Lake Erie The New York Times (3/14) For those who live and play on the shores of Lake Erie, the spring rains that will begin falling here soon are less a blessing than a portent. The spring rains reliably predict how serious the summer algae bloom will be. Wisconsin communities prepare for climate change Wisconsin Public Radio (3/13) About a dozen communities in Wisconsin have created task forces to address regional symptoms of climate change — specifically, higher temperatures, more winter precipitation, and more droughts.
Overview "Wait a day and the weather will change" is an apt description of weather in the Great Lakes region, especially in the spring and fall. That's because the region is affected by both warm, humid air from the Gulf of Mexico and cold, dry air from the Arctic. In general, the north experiences cooler weather, while the south has warmer temperatures. The entire basin experiences four distinct seasons. The Great Lakes also have a big influence on the climate. Acting as a giant heat sink, the lakes moderate the temperatures of the surrounding land, cooling the summers and warming the winters. This results in a milder climate in portions of the basin compared to other locations of similar latitude. The lakes also act as a giant humidifier, increasing the moisture content of the air throughout the year. In the winter, this moisture condenses as snow when it reaches the land, creating heavy snowfall in some areas, known as "snow belts" on the downwind shores of the lakes. The shores of Lake Superior are prone to this "lake effect" snow and have recorded up to 350 inches of snow in a single year. During the winter, the temperature of the lakes continues to drop. Ice frequently covers Lake Erie but seldom fully covers the other lakes. References: Great Lakes Atlas, Environment Canada and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1995
Comprehensive Resources Climate and Water Environment Canada's Freshwater Web Discusses climate change and the potential effects on the world's water resources. Interactive Weather Information Network NOAA, National Weather Service Local weather, severe weather warnings, and videos. MSU Agricultural Weather Office Michigan State Univeristy, Agricultural Weather Office Provides featured articles such as growing season reports, forecast products, and current weather information. The Daily Planet University of Illinois, Department of Atmospheric Sciences In addition to weather images and MPEG animations, there are links to online electronic textbook and a number of other locally developed resources, including Weather World. The Weather Channel Breaking weather, current conditions and forecasts. UM-Weather University of Michigan Provides access to dozens of weather products including conditions, forecasts, warnings, radar, climate information, and satellite photos. Weather Information Home Page U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Detroit District Provides current and previous month's precipitation, hydrographs of Great Lakes precipitation, and summaries of monthly and year-to-date precipitation. Weather World 2010 Project University of Illinois A WWW framework for integrating current and archived weather data with multimedia instructional resources using new and innovative technologies.
Current Conditions Real-time weather data Research Applications Program, National Center for Atmospheric Research Features include an interactive mapper for viewing temperatures, visibility, skycover, wind direction and more. You also can view current images of snow cover and depth, courtesy of NOAA and the U.S. Air Force. USA - Great Lakes poletopole.org Interactive Flash weather map serving near real-time conditions and forecasts for Great Lakes and surrounding region.
Education Weather: University Departments in the Great Lakes Region WW2010 Online Guides University of Illinois Instructional resources that present such topics as meteorology, climate, remote sensing and global change not as individual sciences, but as integral components of a much larger system.
Forecasts and Observations TWO-DAY FORECASTS Illinois National Weather Service Indiana National Weather Service Michigan National Weather Service Minnesota National Weather Service New York National Weather Service Ohio National Weather Service Ontario Meteorological Service of Canada Pennsylvania National Weather Service Quebec Meteorological Service of Canada Wisconsin National Weather Service Canadian Provincial Weather Forecasts Environment Canada Current conditions and local forecasts for the Canadian provinces. Current Climate Situation in the Midwest Illinois State Water Survey, Midwestern Climate Center Maps of precipitation, temperature and snowfall for previous 7 and 30 days. Forecast Data Sets NOAA, Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory Data sets are now available for Lake Erie and Ontario Great Lakes Coastal Forecasting System NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory Provides maps depicting current and 6- or 24-hour forecasted conditions for several variables, including wind, wave height water surface and temperature. Real-time Meteorological Observation Network for Lake Michigan NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory Quick links to current webcam views, wind speeds and air temperatures for Milwaukee and Kenosha, Wis.; Chicago, Ill.; and Muskegon and Saugatuck, Mich. Weather Michigan Originally developed for emergency managers and storm spotters, this site has evolved into a dependable one-stop source for anyone seeking extensive coverage of Michigan's ever-changing weather. Weather Underground University of Michigan Provides weather imagery, current conditions and forecasts.
Historical Conditions GLIN: Compare snow melt (snow water equivalent) for the upper Great Lakes basin: 1997-2000 From the summer of 1997 to today, water levels on the middle Great Lakes have fallen from near record highs to near record lows. This decline is nearly 3.5 feet on lakes Michigan, Huron, St. Clair and Erie. This trend is forecasted to continue for the foreseeable future due in part to the fact that the drainage basins for lakes Superior and northern Michigan and Huron (the headwaters for the Great Lakes) have had one of the driest winters on record. Snowmelt runoff is a key component in replenishing groundwater and tributary stream flows into the Great Lakes. Central NY Weather History Tom Hauf, WTVH Meteorologist Features National Weather Service records from 1902 to present, with a month-by-month summary of significant weather that has affected the eastern Lake Ontario region. Climate Summaries for the Midwest Illinois State Water Survey, Midwestern Climate Center Averages and extremes of temperature, precipitation, degree days and growing season for stations throughout the Midwest. Great Lakes States Monthly Precipitation Data NOAA, Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory Monthly precipitation data by station for each state, beginning of record to 1990. Zipped files via FTP.
Ice Great Lakes Data NOAA, National Ice Center Provides 30- and 90-day ice forecasts based on AVHRR data, OLS data, ship reports and U.S. Coast Guard shore reports. Great Lakes Surface Environmental Analysis NOAA, Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory Digital map of the Great Lakes surface water temperature and ice cover produced daily through the NOAA CoastWatch program. Lake Ice Data NOAA, National Snow and Ice Data Center Provides historical data, mainly on microfilm, on the following topics: aerial photos of ice conditions, daily ice observations at NOAA water level gauge sites, ice charts and surface ice reports from the U.S. Coast Guard. Remote Sensing of Great Lakes Snow and Ice Michigan Technological University Includes time series of AVHRR images, passive microwave movie, images of Great Lakes ice, photos of Lake Superior ice, including ice volcanoes of Lake Superior's shore.
Storms and Winds Storm Probability Tables U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Detroit District These monthly tables show possible storm-induced water level rises (in feet) at key locations on the Great Lakes.
Related Resources GLIN: Agencies and Organizations, Weather GLIN: Climate Change in the Great Lakes Region GLIN: Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Hydrology GLIN: Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Water Flows GLIN: Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Water Levels
This page was created under the guidance of the binational Coordinating Committee on Great Lakes Basic Hydraulic and Hydrologic Data. This symbol is used throughout the GLIN hydrology section to indicate data or references prepared under the auspices of the Coordinating Committee.
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