CLEVELAND, Ohio – Mariners across northern Ohio are being urged to navigate with extreme caution Friday as water levels on Lake Erie dip well below normal, prompting a Low Water Advisory from the National Weather Service in Cleveland.
According to the NWS, the advisory remains in effect until 10 p.m. Friday and covers the open waters of Lake Erie from Maumee Bay to Vermilion. At Toledo, the lake sits roughly two inches below the critical mark for safe navigation, creating hazardous conditions for smaller craft and shallow channels.
Winds shifting west to southwest are expected to help slowly raise levels later this evening, though navigation challenges will persist through nightfall. Mariners traveling near Reno Beach, The Islands, and the western Lake Erie shoreline should remain alert to sudden depth changes and exposed sandbars.
Officials warn that unusually low levels can make docking and passage through narrow channels difficult. Boaters are urged to use depth finders, avoid nonessential travel, and remain mindful of submerged hazards.
The weather service says lake conditions should gradually improve overnight as water levels stabilize, but additional advisories are possible if winds remain offshore.
