Quarterly Climate Impacts 

and Outlook

Great Lakes Region

September 2014

#regionalclimateoutlooks

Great Lakes Region 

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook

 - September 2014 - 

www.drought.gov/drought/content/resources/reports

www.ec.gc.ca/eau-water/default.asp?lang=En&n=F5329B03-1

*UHDW/DNHV6LJQLÀFDQW(YHQWV - for June - August 2014

6XUIDFH:DWHU7HPSHUDWXUH

3UHFLSLWDWLRQ

5HJLRQDO&OLPDWH2YHUYLHZfor June - August 2014

Summer 2014 was cooler than normal across the Great Lakes 

basin, with basin temperatures 1°C (1.8°F) to 3°C (5.4°F) below 

normal in July and August. In fact, 5 of the 8 U.S. Great Lakes 

states ranked July 2014 among their top 11 coldest Julys on 

record. 

WĞƚĐŽŶĚŝƟŽŶƐĐŽŶƟŶƵĞĚƚŽĚŽŵŝŶĂƚĞĂĐƌŽƐƐƚŚĞ'ƌĞĂƚ>ĂŬĞƐ

ďĂƐŝŶƌĞƐƵůƟŶŐŝŶǁĂƚĞƌůĞǀĞůƐƌŝƐŝŶŐŵŽƌĞƚŚĂŶƵƐƵĂůĨŽƌƚŚŝƐ

ƟŵĞŽĨLJĞĂƌŽŶĞĂĐŚŽĨƚŚĞůĂŬĞƐ͕ĞdžĐĞƉƚ>ĂŬĞKŶƚĂƌŝŽǁŚĞƌĞ

ĂďŽǀĞĂǀĞƌĂŐĞŽƵƞůŽǁƐŽīƐĞƚǁĞƚĐŽŶĚŝƟŽŶƐ͘>ĂŬĞ^ƵƉĞƌŝŽƌ

ended the quarter above-average and at levels not seen since 

1996. Lake Michigan-Huron levels began September just below 

ŝƚƐůŽŶŐͲƚĞƌŵŵŽŶƚŚůLJĂǀĞƌĂŐĞĂŶĚĂƚůĞǀĞůƐŶŽƚĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞĚ

since 1998.

A “harmful algal bloom” developed in Lake Erie this summer, 

ǁŝƚŚǁĞƚǁĞĂƚŚĞƌĂŶĚĂŐƌŝĐƵůƚƵƌĞĨĞƌƟůŝnjĞƌƐƚŚĞƐƵƐƉĞĐƚĞĚ

drivers. Harmful algal blooms are any large increased density 

ŽĨĂůŐĂĞǁŝƚŚƐŝŐŶŝĮĐĂŶƚƐŽĐŝŽĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐŽƌĞĐŽůŽŐŝĐĂůĞīĞĐƚƐ

ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐƚŽdžŝŶƐ͕ďĞĂĐŚĨŽƵůŝŶŐ͕ŝŶƚĂŬĞĐůŽŐŐŝŶŐ͕ƌĞĚƵĐĞĚ

property value, and/or taste-odor issues. 

FůŽŽĚŝŶŐǁĂƐĂŵĂũŽƌŝƐƐƵĞƚŚŝƐƐƵŵŵĞƌĂĐƌŽƐƐƚŚĞ'ƌĞĂƚ>ĂŬĞƐďĂƐŝŶ͘/ŶŵŝĚͲƵŐƵƐƚ͕ĞƚƌŽŝƚ͕D/ĂŶĚtŝŶĚƐŽƌ͕KEďŽƚŚĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞĚƐŝŐŶŝĮĐĂŶƚ

ŇŽŽĚŝŶŐĂŌĞƌŝŶƚĞŶƐĞ͕ŚĞĂǀLJƌĂŝŶĨĂůů͘/ŶĞƚƌŽŝƚ͕ϭϬϮŵŵ;κŝŶͿƚŽϭρϮŵŵ;ςŝŶͿŽĨƌĂŝŶĨĞůůǁŝƚŚŝŶΘŚŽƵƌƐŽŶƵŐƵƐƚϭϭ͕ŵƵĐŚŽĨǁŚŝĐŚĨĞůůĚƵƌŝŶŐ

ĞǀĞŶŝŶŐƌƵƐŚŚŽƵƌ͘/ŶtŝŶĚƐŽƌ͕ƚŚĞϳκŵŵ;Ϯ͘εŝŶͿŽĨƌĂŝŶƚŚĂƚĨĞůůŽŶƵŐƵƐƚϭϭǁĂƐƚŚĞŝƌƐĞĐŽŶĚǁĞƩĞƐƚƵŐƵƐƚĚĂLJŽŶƌĞĐŽƌĚ͘KŶƵŐƵƐƚκ͕

ƐŝŐŶŝĮĐĂŶƚŇŽŽĚŝŶŐŽĨŚŝŐŚǁĂLJƐ͕ƐƚƌĞĞƚƐ͕ĂŶĚĂĨĞǁƚŚŽƵƐĂŶĚŚŽŵĞƐŽĐĐƵƌƌĞĚŝŶƵƌůŝŶŐƚŽŶ͕KE͕ǁŚĞŶƵƉƚŽϭεϬŵŵ;ϳ͘ρŝŶͿĨĞůůůŽĐĂůůLJǁŝƚŚŝŶĂ

ĨĞǁŚŽƵƌƐ͘^ĞǀĞƌĂůĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƟĞƐǁŝƚŚŝŶDEĂůƐŽĨĞůƚƚŚĞŝŵƉĂĐƚƐŽĨŇŽŽĚŝŶŐŝŶůĂƚĞ:ƵŶĞ͘/ŶƉĂƌƟĐƵůĂƌ͕ƚŚĞDŝƐƐŝƐƐŝƉƉŝZŝǀĞƌƌŽƐĞƚŽĂŶĞĂƌͲƌĞĐŽƌĚς

ŵ;ϮϬŌͿĐƌĞƐƚŝŶDŝŶŶĞĂƉŽůŝƐͲ^ƚ͘WĂƵů͕ĨŽƌĐŝŶŐƚŚĞĐůŽƐŝŶŐŽĨƐŽŵĞƌŽĂĚƐ͘dŚĞŵĂLJŽƌŽĨ^ƚ͘WĂƵů͕DEĚĞĐůĂƌĞĚĂƐƚĂƚĞŽĨĞŵĞƌŐĞŶĐLJĨŽƌƚŚŝƐĂƌĞĂ͘

Surface water temperatures were colder 

than usual for Summer 2014. Lakes 

Superior and Michigan-Huron generally 

saw departures from near average to 

-6.6°C (-11.9°F) from average. Lake 

Ontario’s water temperatures deviated 

from near average to -4.6°C (-8.3°F) from 

average, while Lake Erie had departures 

from near average to -1°C (-1.8°F) from 

ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ͘dŚĞďĞůŽǁͲĂǀĞƌĂŐĞǁĂƚĞƌ

temperatures were due to below-normal 

air temperatures and late-season ice cover.

Summer was cooler than normal 

in the Great Lakes basin, with 

departures from near normal to 

-2°C (-3.6°F) from normal. July was 

quite cool as departures ranged 

from -1°C (-1.8°F) to -3°C (-5.4°F) 

from normal. August was also cool, 

with departures from near normal 

to -2°C (-3.6°F) from normal. June 

was the only warmer-than-normal 

month, with departures from 

near normal to +2°C (+3.6°F) from 

normal. 

tĂƚĞƌůĞǀĞůƐƚĂƟƐƟĐƐďĂƐĞĚŽŶϭεϭΘͲϮϬϭϯ͘

7HPSHUDWXUH'HSIURP1RUPDO

7HPSHUDWXUH

*UHDW/DNHV:DWHU/HYHOV

Levels on all of the Great Lakes remain above last year’s levels at 

ƚŚĞďĞŐŝŶŶŝŶŐŽĨ^ĞƉƚĞŵďĞƌ͕ǁŝƚŚƚŚĞĞdžĐĞƉƟŽŶŽĨ>ĂŬĞKŶƚĂƌŝŽ͕

ǁŚŝĐŚǁĂƐϮĐŵ;Ϭ͘ΘŝŶͿůŽǁĞƌƚŚĂŶůĂƐƚLJĞĂƌ͘ŽŶƟŶƵĞĚǁĞƚ

ǁĞĂƚŚĞƌĐŽŶƚƌŝďƵƚĞĚƚŽ>ĂŬĞ^ƵƉĞƌŝŽƌĮŶŝƐŚŝŶŐƚŚĞƋƵĂƌƚĞƌϭρ

cm (5.9 in) above its long-term average and 20 cm (7.9 in) above 

ůĂƐƚLJĞĂƌ͛ƐůĞǀĞů͘>ĂŬĞDŝĐŚŝŐĂŶͲ,ƵƌŽŶĐŽŶƟŶƵĞĚƚŽƌŝƐĞ͕ĮŶŝƐŚŝŶŐ

the quarter just 2 cm (0.8 in) below average, but, 42 cm (16.5 in) 

ŚŝŐŚĞƌƚŚĂŶůĂƐƚLJĞĂƌ͛ƐůĞǀĞů͘dŚĞŽƚŚĞƌůĂŬĞƐĂůƐŽƌĞĐĞŝǀĞĚĂďŽǀĞ

average water supplies. At the beginning of September, Lake Erie 

was 11 cm (4.3 in) above average while Lake Ontario was 7 cm 

(2.8 in) above average.

dhe Great Lakes basin received 

120% of its average summer 

ƉƌĞĐŝƉŝƚĂƟŽŶ͘/Ŷ:ƵŶĞ͕Ăůů

ůĂŬĞďĂƐŝŶƐǁĞƌĞǁĞƩĞƌƚŚĂŶ

average, with the overall basin 

seeing 135% of average. July 

and August were wet for all lake 

basins but Superior. Overall, the 

Great Lakes basin saw 110% 

of average in July and 120% in 

August. 

/DNH7HPS'HSIURP/7$&

DĂƉ͗ƉƌĞĐŝƉŶŽƌŵĂůƐďĂƐĞĚŽŶϭεΘϭͲϮϬϭϬ;NOAA, ECͿ͘

dĞdžƚ͗ƉƌĞĐŝƉĂǀĞƌĂŐĞƐďĂƐĞĚŽŶϭεϬϬͲϮϬϭϬ;USACE)

>ŽŶŐͲƚĞƌŵĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ;>dͿďĂƐĞĚŽŶ

ϭεεϮͲϮϬϭϯ͘

:ƵůLJϮϬϭκƐĞůĞĐƚĞĚƚŽĚŝƐƉůĂLJŐƌĞĂƚĞƐƚĂŶŽŵĂůŝĞƐ

dĞŵƉĞƌĂƚƵƌĞŶŽƌŵĂůƐďĂƐĞĚŽŶϭεΘϭͲϮϬϭϬ͘

3UHFLSLWDWLRQ3HUFHQWRI1RUPDO

-XQH$XJ

2014

-XQH$XJ

2014 July 2014
Regional Impacts - for June - August 2014

Regional Outlook - for October - December 2014 Great Lakes Region Partners

Environment Canada

www.ec.gc.ca

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

www.agr.gc.ca 

Midwestern Regional Climate Center

www.mrcc.isws.illinois.edu

Northeast Regional Climate Center

www.nrcc.cornell.edu

Great Lakes Region State Climatologists

www.stateclimate.org

EĂƟŽŶĂůKĐĞĂŶŝĐĂŶĚƚŵŽƐƉŚĞƌŝĐĚŵŝŶŝƐƚƌĂƟŽŶ

www.noaa.gov

EĂƟŽŶĂůKƉĞƌĂƟŽŶĂů,LJĚƌŽůŽŐŝĐZĞŵŽƚĞ^ĞŶƐŝŶŐĞŶƚĞƌ

www.nohrsc.nws.gov

'ƌĞĂƚ>ĂŬĞƐŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚĂůZĞƐĞĂƌĐŚ>ĂďŽƌĂƚŽƌLJ

www.glerl.noaa.gov

EK'ƌĞĂƚ>ĂŬĞƐ^ĞĂ'ƌĂŶƚEĞƚǁŽƌŬ

www.seagrant.noaa.gov

North Central River Forecast Center

www.crh.noaa.gov/ncrfc

KŚŝŽZŝǀĞƌ&ŽƌĞĐĂƐƚĞŶƚĞƌ

www.crh.noaa.gov/ohrfc 

ůŝŵĂƚĞWƌĞĚŝĐƟŽŶĞŶƚĞƌ

www.cpc.noaa.gov

Great Lakes Integrated Sciences & Assessments

www.glisa.umich.edu

h^ƌŵLJŽƌƉƐŽĨŶŐŝŶĞĞƌƐ͕ĞƚƌŽŝƚŝƐƚƌŝĐƚ

www.lre.usace.army.mil

EĂƟŽŶĂů/ŶƚĞŐƌĂƚĞĚƌŽƵŐŚƚ/ŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ^LJƐƚĞŵ

www.drought.gov

'ƌĞĂƚ>ĂŬĞƐtĂƚĞƌ>ĞǀĞůĂƐŚďŽĂƌĚ

www.glerl.noaa.gov/data/dashboard/GLHCD.html

#regionalclimateoutlooks

ŽŶƚĂĐƚĨŽƌEK͗ 

Molly Woloszyn: mollyw@illinois.edu

^ĂŵĂŶƚŚĂŽƌŝƐŽī͗ƐĂŵĂŶƚŚĂ͘ďŽƌŝƐŽīΛĐŽƌŶĞůů͘ĞĚƵ

ŽŶƚĂĐƚĨŽƌŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚĂŶĂĚĂ͗

greatlakes-grandslacs@ec.gc.ca

enviroinfo@ec.gc.ca

Great Lakes Region 

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook

 - September 2014 - 

www.drought.gov/drought/content/resources/reports

www.ec.gc.ca/eau-water/default.asp?lang=En&n=F5329B03-1

Contact Information

EŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚĂŶĂĚĂ;ͿĂŶĚƚŚĞůŝŵĂƚĞWƌĞĚŝĐƟŽŶĞŶƚĞƌ;WͿĂƌĞĨŽƌĞĐĂƐƟŶŐŐƌĞĂƚĞƌ

ĐŚĂŶĐĞƐĨŽƌĂďŽǀĞŶŽƌŵĂůƚĞŵƉĞƌĂƚƵƌĞƐĨŽƌKĐƚŽďĞƌƚŚƌŽƵŐŚĞĐĞŵďĞƌĨŽƌƚŚĞŝƌƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞ

ĂŶĂĚŝĂŶĂŶĚh͘^͘'ƌĞĂƚ>ĂŬĞƐďĂƐŝŶƐ͘,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ďŽƚŚĂŶĚƚŚĞWŝŶĚŝĐĂƚĞƚŚĞƌĞŝƐŶŽĐůĞĂƌ

ƐŝŐŶĂůŽŶǁŚĞƚŚĞƌƉƌĞĐŝƉŝƚĂƟŽŶǁŝůůďĞĂďŽǀĞ͕ŶĞĂƌ͕ŽƌďĞůŽǁŶŽƌŵĂůĨŽƌƚŚĞŝƌďĂƐŝŶƐĨŽƌƚŚĞ

ƐĂŵĞƟŵĞƉĞƌŝŽĚ͘

El Niño has a 60-70% chance of developing by mid to late fall. Based on previous years, El 

Niño winters tend to be warmer than normal in the Great Lakes basin, with drier than normal 

ĐŽŶĚŝƟŽŶƐŝŶƚŚĞĞĂƐƚĞƌŶďĂƐŝŶ͕ůĞƐƐƐŶŽǁƚŚĂŶƵƐƵĂů͕ĂŶĚƌĞĚƵĐĞĚŝĐĞĐŽǀĞƌŽŶƚŚĞůĂŬĞƐ͘

dŚĞŚĂƌŵĨƵůĂůŐĂůďůŽŽŵŝŶ>ĂŬĞƌŝĞĐƌĞĂƚĞĚƚŽdžŝĐ͕ƵŶĚƌŝŶŬĂďůĞ

water for residents and businesses in the western Lake Erie area. On 

ƵŐƵƐƚϮ͕ĐŝƚLJŽĨdŽůĞĚŽĂŶĚKŚŝŽƐƚĂƚĞŽĸĐŝĂůƐŝŶĨŽƌŵĞĚƌĞƐŝĚĞŶƚƐ

ŽĨdŽůĞĚŽŶŽƚƚŽƵƐĞƚŚĞŝƌƚĂƉǁĂƚĞƌ;ƌĞƐƚƌŝĐƟŽŶƐ

ǁĞƌĞůŝŌĞĚŽŶƵŐƵƐƚκͿ͘DĂŶLJďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐĞƐƌĞƉŽƌƚĞĚ

lost revenue since they had to close during the 

ǁĂƚĞƌĞŵĞƌŐĞŶĐLJ͘dŚĞŐŽǀĞƌŶŽƌŽĨKŚŝŽĚĞĐůĂƌĞĚ

a state of emergency for Lucas, Wood, and Fulton 

ĐŽƵŶƟĞƐĂŶĚƐĂŝĚƚŚĂƚŽĸĐŝĂůƐǁĞƌĞǁŽƌŬŝŶŐƚŽ

ŚĂǀĞĚƌŝŶŬŝŶŐǁĂƚĞƌƐŚŝƉƉĞĚĨŽƌĂīĞĐƚĞĚƌĞƐŝĚĞŶƚƐ͘

KŶƵŐƵƐƚϮς͕ƌĞƐŝĚĞŶƚƐŽĨWĞůĞĞ/ƐůĂŶĚ͕KEǁĞƌĞ

ĂĚǀŝƐĞĚŶŽƚƚŽĚƌŝŶŬƚŚĞǁĂƚĞƌ;ƌĞƐƚƌŝĐƟŽŶƐǁĞƌĞ

ůŝŌĞĚŽŶ^ĞƉƚĞŵďĞƌεͿ͘dŚĞǁĂƚĞƌĞŵĞƌŐĞŶĐŝĞƐ

put a spotlight on Lake Erie’s algae problem, which 

ŚĂƐďĞĞŶŽĐĐƵƌƌŝŶŐĨŽƌŵŽƌĞƚŚĂŶĂĚĞĐĂĚĞ͘dŽƚƌLJƚŽĐŽŵďĂƚƚŚŝƐ

issue, Ohio is receiving $2 million in new federal emergency funds to 

ƌĞĚƵĐĞƌƵŶŽīŝŶƚŚĞǁĞƐƚĞƌŶ>ĂŬĞƌŝĞďĂƐŝŶ͘

/DNH/HYHO2XWORRN

dŚĞĨĂůůƐĞĂƐŽŶŝƐƚŚĞƟŵĞŽĨLJĞĂƌǁŚĞŶǁĂƚĞƌ

levels are typically in a seasonal decline. Current 

outlook for October through December indicate 

ƚŚĂƚůĞǀĞůƐŽŶůĂŬĞƐ^ƵƉĞƌŝŽƌĂŶĚƌŝĞĂƌĞĞdžƉĞĐƚĞĚ

to remain 9 cm (3.5 in) to 14 cm (5.5 in) above 

ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞƵŶůĞƐƐĞdžĐĞĞĚŝŶŐůLJǁĞƚŽƌĚƌLJǁĂƚĞƌ

ƐƵƉƉůLJĐŽŶĚŝƟŽŶƐĂƌĞĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞĚ͘>ĂŬĞDŝĐŚŝŐĂŶͲ

,ƵƌŽŶŝƐĞdžƉĞĐƚĞĚƚŽƌŝƐĞĂďŽǀĞĂǀĞƌĂŐĞƵŶůĞƐƐ

ĚƌLJĐŽŶĚŝƟŽŶƐƌĞƚƵƌŶ͘>ĂŬĞKŶƚĂƌŝŽŝƐĞdžƉĞĐƚĞĚ

ƚŽĚƌŽƉĂĨĞǁĐĞŶƟŵĞƚĞƌƐďĞůŽǁĂǀĞƌĂŐĞƵŶůĞƐƐ

above average water supplies are received. 

Outlook from the US Army Corps of Engineers and 

Environment Canada (October-December 2014) 

7HPSHUDWXUHDQG3UHFLSLWDWLRQ2XWORRN

Sampling Lake Erie 

on 8/4/14 (NOAA)

:DWHU4XDOLW\ 3XEOLF+HDOWK

1DYLJDWLRQ	5HFUHDWLRQ

,QIUDVWUXFWXUH	7UDQVSRUWDWLRQ

dhe lack of hot temperatures this summer 

helped reduce the typical summer occurrence 

ŽĨƐŵŽŐͬŽnjŽŶĞƉŽůůƵƟŽŶ͘/ŶĨĂĐƚ͕ƚŚĞKŶƚĂƌŝŽ

Government and Environment Canada did not 

issue any Air Quality Advisories this summer 

for the Canadian Great Lakes basin. In the U.S., 

KnjŽŶĞĐƟŽŶĂLJƐǁĞƌĞŽŶůLJŝƐƐƵĞĚŝŶDŝĐŚŝŐĂŶ

(Detroit and southwest) from July 20-22 by the 

DŝĐŚŝŐĂŶĞƉĂƌƚŵĞŶƚŽĨŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚĂůƋƵĂůŝƚLJ͘/ŶĂĚĚŝƟŽŶ͕the heat 

ǁĂǀĞǁĂƐŵŝƐƐŝŶŐŝŶĂĐƟŽŶƚŚŝƐƐƵŵŵĞƌĂĐƌŽƐƐƚŚĞďĂƐŝŶ͕ǁŝƚŚŵĂŶLJ

ůŽĐĂƟŽŶƐŽŶůLJĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐŝŶŐůĞƐƐƚŚĂŶŚĂůĨƚŚĞŝƌŶŽƌŵĂůŶƵŵďĞƌŽĨϯϬΣн

(86°F+) days for the summer. dŚĞĂďƐĞŶĐĞŽĨŚĞĂƚǁĂǀĞƐƌĞƐƵůƚĞĚŝŶůĞƐƐ

ŚĞĂƚƐƚƌĞƐƐ͕ǁŚŝĐŚŝƐĂƉŽƐŝƟǀĞĞīĞĐƚŽŶƚŚĞƉƵďůŝĐŚĞĂůƚŚŽĨƚŚĞďĂƐŝŶ͘

SĞǀĞƌĂů'ƌĞĂƚ>ĂŬĞƐĐŝƟĞƐĨĞůƚŝŶĨƌĂƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĞ

ĂŶĚƚƌĂŶƐƉŽƌƚĂƟŽŶŝŵƉĂĐƚƐƌĞůĂƚĞĚƚŽ

ŇŽŽĚŝŶŐƚŚŝƐƐƵŵŵĞƌ͘dŚĞĞƚƌŽŝƚ͕D/

ŇŽŽĚŝŶŐĞǀĞŶƚŽŶƵŐƵƐƚϭϭůĞŌƚŚŽƵƐĂŶĚƐŽĨ

ŵŽƚŽƌŝƐƚƐƐƚƌĂŶĚĞĚŽŶŇŽŽĚĞĚĨƌĞĞǁĂLJƐĂŶĚ

streets, many of which remained closed for 

ĚĂLJƐ͘ĞůŝǀĞƌLJŝŶƚĞƌƌƵƉƟŽŶƐĂŶĚĂďƐĞŶƚĞĞŝƐŵ

ƐůŽǁĞĚĂƵƚŽŵďŝůĞƉƌŽĚƵĐƟŽŶŝŶĞƚƌŽŝƚ͘KŶ

June 20, heavy rains produced a massive 

mudslide behind a University of Minnesota Medical Center, dumping 1.8 

ŵ;ςŌͿƚŽϮ͘κŵ;ΘŌͿŽĨŵƵĚĂŶĚƚƌĞĞĚĞďƌŝƐŽŶĂƉĂƌŬǁĂLJďĞůŽǁ͘

dŚĞƌĞĐĞŶƚƌŝƐĞŝŶǁĂƚĞƌůĞǀĞůƐŚĂƐďĞĞŶďĞŶĞĮĐŝĂůƚŽƚŚĞƐŚŝƉƉŝŶŐ

ĂŶĚƌĞĐƌĞĂƟŽŶĂůďŽĂƟŶŐĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJŽŶƚŚĞ'ƌĞĂƚ>ĂŬĞƐ͘dŚĞ>ĂŬĞ

ĂƌƌŝĞƌƐƐƐŽĐŝĂƟŽŶĐŝƚĞĚĂŶĞdžĂŵƉůĞŽĨĂĐĂƌƌŝĞƌůĞĂǀŝŶŐƵůƵƚŚ͕

MN in June 2014 that was able to transport over 2,000 more tons of 

ĐĂƌŐŽĐŽŵƉĂƌĞĚƚŽƚŚŝƐƐĂŵĞƟŵĞůĂƐƚLJĞĂƌ͘DĂƌŝŶĂŽǁŶĞƌƐŚĂĚŵŽƌĞ

ƐůŝƉƐƚŽƐĞůůĂŶĚƌĞƋƵŝƌĞĚůĞƐƐĚƌĞĚŐŝŶŐ͘ŽĂƚĞƌƐĂŶĚĮƐŚĞƌŵĂŶǁĞƌĞ

able to access areas on the lakes that they could not access before.

Flooded I-75/I-696 interchange in 

Royal Oak, MI on 8/12/14 (BGilbow - via Flickr)

+DUPIXO$OJDO%ORRP2XWORRN

AƐŽĨĞĂƌůLJ^ĞƉƚĞŵďĞƌ͕ƚŚĞŚĂƌŵĨƵůĂůŐĂůďůŽŽŵƐƟůůƉĞƌƐŝƐƚƐŝŶǁĞƐƚĞƌŶ

Lake Erie and has now reached the northern shore of the west central 

ďĂƐŝŶ͘,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ƚŚĞƐŝnjĞĂŶĚƚŽdžŝĐŝƚLJŽĨƚŚĞďůŽŽŵŚĂǀĞĚĞĐƌĞĂƐĞĚ

since the bloom peaked in early August. According to researchers, 

harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie typically dissipate by the middle to 

ĞŶĚŽĨKĐƚŽďĞƌ͘hŶƟůƚŚĞϮϬϭκĂůŐĂĞďůŽŽŵĚŝƐƐŝƉĂƚĞƐ͕ŵŽŶŝƚŽƌŝŶŐŽĨ

ĐŽŶƚĂŵŝŶĂƟŽŶůĞǀĞůƐŽĨĚƌŝŶŬŝŶŐǁĂƚĞƌŝŶƚŚĞdŽůĞĚŽĂƌĞĂŝƐŽŶŐŽŝŶŐ͘

MODIS 9/8/14

Smoggy morning in Toronto, ON 

ŽŶκͬϭϯͬϬρ;DĂƌƟŶĂƚŚƌĂĞͲ

via Flickr)