Water levels on the Great Lakes are climbing.

Ice coverage combined with heavy snowfall has had some predicting a large rise in water levels in 2014 for months.

A rise in water levels on the Great Lakes during spring is expected annually.

This year, water levels are starting from a higher point than in 2013 and are expected to continue to rise from there.

Each of the Great Lakes has an annual rise and fall cycle driven by the timing of precipitation, snow melt, and evaporation. In general, the lakes are at their lowest levels in the winter and highest levels in summer or fall. The range in annual rise is from 11 to 20 inches.

The rise in water levels is welcome and some areas are beginning to return to the long-term averages that we'd like to see.

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