Water levels forecast

The water levels forecast for Lake Superior, Huron, St. Clair, Erie and Ontario, and Montréal Harbour. Monthly mean water levels are reflective of International Great Lake Datum (1985), which refers to metres above chart datum. Data also references exceedance probability.

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About monthly mean lake levels

The forecast of monthly mean lake levels for the next 6 months are grouped as:

  • high level, where there's a 5% probability of exceeding this level
  • most probable level, where there's a 50% probability of exceeding this level
  • low level, where's there's a 95% probability of exceeding this level

Canada and U.S. flag water levels are collected by the:

  • Canadian Hydrographic Service for the Canadian gauges
  • National Ocean Service and National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration for the American gauges

The probable range of future levels for 6-month forecasts are prepared under the auspices of the International Coordinating Committee on Great Lakes Basic Hydraulic and Hydrologic Data by:

  • Environment Canada
  • the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District
  • Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Regulation Office in Cornwall

Lake Superior

Chart datum 183.20m International Great Lake Datum (1985).

Month 5% Most probable 95%
December 2024 183.28 (0.08) 183.25 (0.05) 183.22 (0.02)
January 2025 183.22 (0.02) 183.18 (-0.02) 183.14 (-0.06)
February 2025 183.18 (-0.02) 183.12 (-0.08) 183.07 (-0.13)
March 2025 183.18 (-0.02) 183.10 (-0.10) 183.03 (-0.17)
April 2025 183.24 (0.04) 183.14 (-0.06) 183.04 (-0.16)
May 2025 183.36 (0.16) 183.24 (0.04) 183.12 (-0.08)

Lake Huron

Chart datum 176.00m International Great Lake Datum (1985).

Month 5% Most probable 95%
December 2024 176.29 (0.29) 176.25 (0.25) 176.22 (0.22)
January 2025 176.28 (0.28) 176.20 (0.20) 176.14 (0.14)
February 2025 176.28 (0.28) 176.18 (0.18) 176.09 (0.09)
March 2025 176.32 (0.32) 176.20 (0.20) 176.09 (0.09)
April 2025 176.44 (0.44) 176.27 (0.27) 176.12 (0.12)
May 2025 176.56 (0.56) 176.36 (0.36) 176.16 (0.16)

Lake St. Clair

Chart datum 174.40m International Great Lake Datum (1985).

Month 5% Most probable 95%
December 2024 175.05 (0.65) 174.96 (0.56) 174.88 (0.48)
January 2025 175.12 (0.72) 174.97 (0.57) 174.75 (0.35)
February 2025 175.16 (0.76) 174.95 (0.55) 174.70 (0.30)
March 2025 175.21 (0.81) 175.00 (0.60) 174.76 (0.36)
April 2025 175.30 (0.90) 175.08 (0.68) 174.79 (0.39)
May 2025 175.37 (0.97) 175.14 (0.74) 174.88 (0.48)

Lake Erie

Chart datum 173.50m International Great Lake Datum (1985).

Month 5% Most probable 95%
December 2024 174.20 (0.70) 174.11 (0.61) 174.05 (0.55)
January 2025 174.26 (0.76) 174.10 (0.60) 173.94 (0.44)
February 2025 174.34 (0.84) 174.10 (0.60) 173.86 (0.36)
March 2025 174.46 (0.96) 174.18 (0.68) 173.92 (0.42)
April 2025 174.58 (1.08) 174.31 (0.81) 174.00 (0.50)
May 2025 174.64 (1.14) 174.38 (0.88) 174.08 (0.58)

Lake Ontario

Chart datum 74.20m International Great Lake Datum (1985).

Month 5% Most probable 95%
December 2024 74.50 (0.30) 74.40 (0.20) 74.34 (0.14)
January 2025 74.66 (0.46) 74.45 (0.25) 74.29 (0.09)
February 2025 74.73 (0.53) 74.46 (0.26) 74.25 (0.05)
March 2025 74.88 (0.68) 74.58 (0.38) 74.27 (0.07)
April 2025 75.14 (0.94) 74.80 (0.60) 74.41 (0.21)
May 2025 75.34 (1.14) 74.96 (0.76) 74.66 (0.46)

Montreal Harbour

Chart datum 5.55m International Great Lake Datum (1985).

Month 5% Most probable 95%
December 2024 6.35 (0.80) 5.65 (0.10) 5.50 (-0.05)
January 2025 6.85 (1.30) 5.95 (0.40) 5.55 (0.00)
February 2025 7.18 (1.63) 6.12 (0.57) 5.75 (0.20)
March 2025 7.40 (1.85) 6.35 (0.80) 6.00 (0.45)
April 2025 7.60 (2.05) 6.50 (0.95) 6.06 (0.51)
May 2025 7.80 (2.25) 6.95 (1.40) 6.19 (0.64)