From Thunder Bay News Watch - December 3, 2019

The level of Lake Superior slipped a few more centimetres below record levels in November.

The International Lake Superior Board of Control reports that the lake's mean level last month was 183.81 metres (600.3 feet) above sea level, or eight centimetres (3.1 inches) below the all-time high-water mark established in 1985.

This is still the second highest November level since record-keeping began in 1918.

Lake Superior finished last month five centimetres (1.9 inches) above its level in November 2018.

Its level in October was three centimetres (1.1 inches) below the all-time mark for that month.

From May through September, Superior broke three all-time monthly records and tied two others.

Jacob Bruxer, Canadian representative on the Board of Control, says the decline that occurred last month was fastest in the first half of November, and was largely driven by drier weather north of the lake.

In general, lake levels tend to fall this time of year, and Bruxer said that should continue through December.

He cautioned, however, that levels will remain higher than average "for months to come" at least. "It's highly unlikely we fall anywhere close to average anytime soon," he said.