Weather conditions: A few weak disturbances brought light rain showers and chilly temperatures to the Great Lakes basin this week. A warming trend is expected for the weekend as a high pressure center slides to the east. Temperatures in the 60s are likely across the region on Saturday and Sunday. Scattered showers are expected to return to start the workweek.

Water Level Conditions: All of the Great Lakes remain higher than their levels of a year ago. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie and Ontario are 3, 12, 8, 6, and 1 inches, respectively, higher than their levels last year at this time. The water levels of Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron and St. Clair are expected to decline by 2 inches over the next month. Lake Erie and Ontario are expected to decline 1 and 2 inches, respectively, over the next 30 days. Over the next several months, Lake Superior, Lake Michigan-Huron and Lake St. Clair are forecasted to be above their water levels of a year ago. Lakes Erie and Ontario are forecasted to remain near or below last year's levels over the same time period. See the USACE Daily Levels web page for more water level information.

Current outflows / channel conditions: In October, the outflow from Lake Superior through the St. Mary's River and the outflow from Lake Michigan-Huron through the St. Clair River were below average. The flow in the Detroit River was also below average. The Niagara River carried near average flows during October, while the outflow from Lake Ontario through the St. Lawrence River was above average in October.

Alerts: Users of the Great Lakes, connecting channels and St. Lawrence River should keep informed of current conditions before undertaking any activities that could be affected by changing water levels. Mariners should utilize navigation charts and refer to current water level readings.