ATLANTA -- Lake Lanier's level still remains low despite rain last weekend and another reduction in water released from metro Atlanta's main water source.

John Feldt, the hydrologist in charge at the National Weather Service's Southeast River Forecast Center, said Tuesday that more than 2 inches of rain or more frequent rainfall is needed in the basin that drains into the lake to raise it 2 to 4 feet.

The forecast calls for rain on Wednesday.

But Feldt said he does not expect that rain to make the difference.

He said the lake is ready to receive rain because the ground is moist, meaning any rainfall will move quickly into streams that feed Lanier.

Before the storms on Friday, Lanier was at 1,054.8 feet above sea level or 13.5 feet below average for this time of year. The lake had reached 1,055.6 feet by Tuesday afternoon, a rise of less than 1 foot.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has reduced the amount of water released from the federal reservoir at the request of the state.