PROJECT ALERT NOTICE (MI) Rainfall and snowmelt flooding in Michigan to continue for next 1-5 days.

Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2018 15:07:30 EST

Summary: The lower half of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan has received as much as 4 inches of rain since last Monday night. This rainfall system had moved off by mid-day today. Some moderate to major flooding is predicted over the next 1-5 days.

Since Monday evening, 1-4 inches of rainfall has fallen throughout the southern half of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Highest rainfall occurred in the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo areas as well as far the southwestern corner of the state. It is currently dry although NWS is now predicting an additional 0.25-.50 inches Saturday-Sunday.

NWS shows 8 sites with moderate flooding currently. The St. Joseph River at Niles, which has operated since 1931, is currently experiencing period of record flooding. The Grand River Basin is expected to crest near the 1975 period of record and sites from Ionia downstream to Lake Michigan are expected to be near their 2013 peaks.

Today, 11 USGS personnel from the Lansing and Grayling Field Offices are deployed working in 7 one or two person teams dependent on site difficulties. Crews are addressing small to large basin sites today. Numerous rating extensions have been made, mostly at newer sites, but some older sites as well.

No streamgages have been damaged although phone service was cut to one site and a DCP had to be installed this morning.

USGS has been in contact with local NWS folks today regarding gage problems, flood predictions, etc.