PROJECT ALERT NOTICE (MI) Flooding in Michigan

Date: Fri, 19 Apr 2013 15:09:28 EDT

Summary: Minor to major flooding in Michigan's Lower Peninsula

An area of precipitation stretching from the Gulf of Mexico up through the Midwest resulted in 1 to 5+ inches of rain falling over much of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan from mid-day Wednesday through Friday morning.

NWS is reporting 24 gages at flood stage, including 22 USGS stations. Thirteen gages have stages near flood stage, 17 gages are reporting stages in the minor flooding category, and 7 gages are reporting stages in the moderate flooding category. Three gages are predicted to have stages that are slightly above the major flooding category in the next 72 hours although the modeled peaks have been adjusted downward somewhat already. Ionia County, in central Michigan, appears to be suffering the worst flooding impacts so far, with bridges on small stream crossing washed out, etc. Recurrence intervals for the three gages are about 0.02 (Grand River at Grand Rapids, station 04119000), 0.01 (Tittabawassee River at Midland, station 04156000); and 0.005 to 0.002 (Grand River at Ionia, station 04116000).

Nine technicians, comprising six crews from the Lansing and Grayling Field Offices were dispatched this morning to measure at the many locations at or near peak stage. Two technicians from Lansing Field Office are making ADCP measurements at four gages on the Grand River, from Eastmanville upstream to Ionia, and are working closely with NWS.

Most critical sites have been measured since mid-week last week when the first wave of flooding started. At this time it is not known whether any staff will be working this weekend although most are on standby.


Sub-Region: Midwest; Region: Central United States