The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for much of the Lower Peninsula as tropical moisture from what was once Hurricane Beryl is set to move into Michigan.
A Flood Watch (dark green) is in effect from Tuesday evening until Wednesday evening from the National Weather Service. A Hydrologic Outlook (light green) is in effect to address less impactful flooding potential. Graphic provided by NOAA.NOAA
The Flood Watch goes into effect Tuesday night and expires Wednesday evening. Areas in extreme southeastern Michigan are not included in the watch as less rain is forecast for those areas.
The track of the low pressure center will be through this portion of the state, leading to areas north and west of the center receiving the most rainfall. Hillsdale County has been included in a Hydrologic Outlook (light green) from the National Weather Service to address flooding concerns. Confidence in flooding isn’t high enough, so they are not included in the Flood Watch at this time.
Widespread rain will move into southern areas between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. tonight, moving northeast. Most areas in Lower Michigan will see rain for much of the day Wednesday. Rain will exit the area to the east overnight Wednesday into Thursday. Flooding is a concern for Central and Lower Michigan as a widespread 2 to 4 inches of rain looks likely, with some locations receiving 4 to 6 inches as heavier bands set up.
HRRR future radar shows widespread rain move into Michigan Tuesday evening, continuing throughout the day Wednesday. Rain will exit the area overnight Wednesday into Thursday.NOAA
Meteorologists at the National Weather Service say that situations like this, where remnants of tropical systems move into our area, are responsible for some of the most prolific flooding we’ve seen. That is not to say that this will be record-breaking by any means. However, with this setup, flooding in some areas looks likely.
Heavy rain and some flooding is likely as the remnants of what was once Hurricane Beryl moves into Michigan. A Flood Watch is in effect for much of the Lower Peninsula. Graphic provided by the NWS Grand Rapids.NOAA
If you live in a flood-prone area, it is advisable to take necessary precautions before widespread rain moves in overnight into Wednesday. Those in urban areas or areas with poor drainage should we aware of the flooding potential. Some river and creek flooding is likely, but major river flooding is not expected at this point. Never drive through rain covered roads.
As always, slight changes in the track can result in shifts in the heaviest totals, so stay tuned for updates.