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LAKE CHARLEVOIX -- I recently received this great e-mail question from an instructor about the deeper than normal snowpack and it's potential for rises in water levels on some inland lakes, specifically Lake Charlevoix... I wanted to share.

Joe,

A student just posed a question regarding the relationship of this year’s record snowfall and the extent to which it would impact water levels on Lake Charlevoix. I checked the usgs.org website but I couldn’t find information specific enough to answer the question. Would you be able to help us?

Thanks,

Patti

Instructor

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Hi Patti,

Thanks for writing and your question.

While I am uncertain the exact effect the melting snow will have on the Lake Charlevoix water levels, there is no doubt that the water level on the lake could rise a bit once we get into the snowmelt. Satellite images can actually tell how much water is locked up in the current snow on the ground, and there is roughly 4-8” of water locked up in the snowpack surrounding Lake Charlevoix. You can see that yourself here:

http://www.nohrsc.noaa.gov/snow_model/images/full/Northern_Great_Lakes/nsm_swe/200902/nsm_swe_2009020505_Northern_Great_Lakes.jpg

On top of that, the city of Charlevoix (the nearest place I have snow data from) has already picked up 109” of snow so far this season.

CHARLEVOIX

Monthly Totals/Averages

Snowfall (inches)

Years: 2008-2009

Season       Jul   Aug   Sep   Oct   Nov   Dec   Jan   Feb   Mar   Apr   May   Jun  Season

2008-2009    0.0   0.0   0.0   0.0  10.1  61.2  35.4   2.5     -     -     -     -   109.2

In a normal winter, Charlevoix averages 116” of snow, so we are already only seven inches short of that, and have the rest of February/March/April to go through yet. The concern with Lake Charlevoix, is that a lot of water that could be added is lost to Lake Michigan through the channel at Charlevoix. Lake Michigan has a big influence on the overall levels of the lake because of the direct connection, and Lake Charlevoix ebbs/flows accordingly and its water level is strongly tied to that of Lake Michigan’s. Walloon Lake for instance, which is not connected to Lake Michigan has not seen as dramatic a loss/rise in water levels in recent years as its neighbor to the south and may be more directly impacted by the snowmelt this spring. There is a very interesting article on this posted here: http://www.lakecharlevoixassociation.org/lakelevels.html

I hope this helps and we do appreciate you choosing TV 7&4 for your local news/weather/sports.

Warm Regards,

                       -Joe Charlevoix

                         7&4 Storm Team Meteorologist