were is the water going?
warmer seasons ( if only by degree) means lower water levels. Here me out all you scientists...
For example- 1 degree is the difference between rain falling and snow falling. Low snow fall in the superior basin during winter, means lower spring runoff into the great lakes. a cooler winter, if only by a degree, doesn't cover Erie with ice- that means evaporation all year long = lower lake levels. Think of just 2 seasons winter and summer. Where they overlap are the other 2(fall and spring) With 365 days in a year, A mild winter means a longer summer. Mild winters allow lakes to evaporate ( no ice lid) and snow to fall as rain. rain which is slowly absorbed into the unfrozen ground and instead of overwhelming the ground and straight into the lake like with a spring thaw. No big spring thaw means no big rise in water levels. I have seen a few mild winters in a row in Cleveland. The accumulated affect is what we are seeing now. Maybe you have seen them up north as well?
The exact opposite is true also, string a few wet, cold winters together and you enjoy higher levels in the summer months.
