From Bob Tidmore (quoting external sources)
Monthly the Corps of Engineers in Detroit publishes reports on the Great Lakes water level for all five lakes and summarized the inflows to the lakes from rain and snow inflows from Canada and outflows thru Chicago and Lake Ontario. This is a synopsis of those reports.
As of January 1st 2016, all of the Great Lakes were above their long-term average levels. A strong El Niño is expected to continue into the spring, and will likely be accompanied by above average temperatures and below average precipitation across much of the basin. Among the potential impacts are below average ice cover and changes in the amount and timing of runoff to the lakes.
For example precipitation to Lakes Superior and Michigan-Huron were 60% and 30% above average, respectively. The precipitation to Lake Erie equaled its January average, while Lake Ontario received slightly above average precipitation. The net basin supply to Lake Superior was above average in January, while the water supply to Lake Michigan was below average.
With the exception of Lake Superior, water levels rose on all the Great Lakes from December to January and the mean monthly lake level of all the lakes were above their long-term average January levels. Lakes Superior and Michigan- Huron were 9 and 11 inches above average, respectively.
For the Lake Michigan the water levels as of February 5th of were 11 inches above the low water levels of 1964 but 22 inches below the highest water level record of 1986.
For this summer the Corp of Engineer’s prediction is for water levels to be slightly higher than last summer.
Weather wise the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center’s 3-month outlooks call for an increased likelihood of below average precipitation through July.