Lake Superior level drops in Sept.

An unusually dry early autumn caused the level of Lake Superior to drop two inches in September, a month when the big lake usually remains unchanged.

The International Lake Superior Board of Control announced Superior sits 12 inches below the long-term average for Oct. 1 and is one inch lower than the level at this time last year.

Lakes Michigan and Huron dropped four inches in September, a month they usually drop just two inches. The lakes sit 14 inches below their long-term average and two inches lower than Oct. 1 last year.

Lower-than-normal water levels can cause problems for recreational boat access and force Great Lakes freighters to carry less than full loads of cargo.