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Winter has arrived in Northern Michigan

So, the lake is pushing our way today. Starting to flood our yard. This is the view from our main lakeside security camera since we are downstate.
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The wind is shifting here. It had been blowing west to east, east to west now .
 
Here is a quick video clip of our main lake facing security camera. With the winds coming out of the east today, you can see how its is flooding the entire yard up to nearly the road all around our lake house. Disconcerting!

We head up there tomorrow to see it in person. No cottage flooding as the main floor sits up about 1’ above ground level. We will see how our crawl space and sump pump are holding up. Our neighbor has lived there for over 30 years. They have never seen anything like this their entire ownership (they have always been full timers up there).

Lake is even with our yard!!!
 
I just got a notice from my dealer ( every customer did ) they pushed their entire delivery schedule back 3 weeks. I am now scheduled for May 29th.
 
Thanks for asking. We made out fine. Nice relief!

Lake house was a bit of an island surrounded by water yesterday, but the sump pump kept the crawl space dry, and the cottage main floor is 1’ higher than ground level. So that was totally dry and never impacted.

That said, this is what Gemini is estimated to see Houghton Lake drop 6” - and its premised on hotter dryer weather, which wont come in until probalby June:

“Bottom Line: If you are waiting for a 6-inch drop to begin property repairs or dock work, do not expect it to happen quickly. Given the historic nature of the April 2026 flooding, it will likely take well into June before the lake recedes by a full 6 inches, assuming the weather pattern shifts to a drier cycle.”

We are in for a very interesting start to summer. I need the lake level down 6” to consider putting our docks in, so we will see what June brings us. Right now, its sort of like a giant infinity pool.

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I refined the parameters I gave to Gemini to estimate how long it will take the water level to come down 6” on our lake. I had it add in the NOAA long range forecast along with local short range weather forecasts. It moved the range from late June to, more likely, well into July. I keep feed that 6” drop in depth in because that is what we were thinking we would need minimally before putting out dock in (which otherwise was originally going in next weekend. We’ll have to really put some thought into that. Maybe just put our dock steps in on our Sea Wall for lake access early season, something….

Anyhow, an interesting upcoming summer season.
 
My wife's cousin lives on Lake Huron about 5-7 miles east of the island . She told us that the levels on Huron are rising. Todd, have you noticed any increase in levels?
 
Working with our lake house neighbors to put up a silt fence/sand bag barrier across our two yards. Due to the state of emergency for the county for flooding, we have access to FEMA sand bags and sand. Between all of us, we filled up 80 bags today, and have another 40 to fill up tomorrow. Neighbor has a strong silt fence from a previous garage addition. Between all of it we hope to put something like this up:

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This home is about a mile south of us off the canals to our south. They’re all flooded out over there.
 
We are currently. However, the estimate is 6-8 weeks to get the lake down a half foot. So we remain vulnerable to storm surges. As a result, we are trying to mitigate that in advance. We will see what we can get accomplished through tomorrow. We are 4 (getting) older individuals, so only so much our bodies can do on their own these days. lol
 
I hope all of the preventive measures you are taking wont be needed .
I know exactly what you mean about doing things . Even though I try , my Dr keeps telling me all the things I should not be doing.:p
 
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