9/10/2026

IRON COUNTY – Despite recent rain drought conditions continue in the Western U.P. and far Northern Iron County.  Precipitation at about half of our average rain fall by this time of year.  Drought conditions are evident when you travel just south of Hurley on Highway 51 by the Gile Flowage.  What would normally be a rather large navigable body of water has been nothing more than rocks boulders and mud for the last month or more with some docks and boat landings becoming unusable. Some other lakes in the region are as low as six feet from their average depth.  The Gile flowage is still available and open to the pubic however boaters are urged to use caution.  Rain is on the way with about a third of an inch of rain expected for tomorrow and another half an inch of rain in the forecast for Monday.  Though the rain will help it won’t likely have much of an impact of water levels on the Gile or for other area lakes.