Flood Watch In Effect For Metro Detroit; Rain Expected Through Weekend
DETROIT (WWJ) - Flooding is a continuing concern across metro Detroit with rain in the forecast every day through the weekend.
The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Warning in effect until just before 7 p.m. Thursday in Macomb County, for areas along the Clinton River in Sterling Heights and Clinton Township.
Meantime, an Areal Flood Watch remains in effect through Friday evening for metro Detroit and beyond, including Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Genesee, Lapeer, Livingston, Shiawassee, St. Clair and Washtenaw counties. (A Flood Warning earlier issued for all of Southeast Michigan has expired).
Motorist stranded sitting on top of his car. 8 Mike EB just past Woodward pic.twitter.com/Y8TkzNMqhs
— Laura Teicher Bonnell (@LauraTbonnell) September 29, 2016
The NWS says a persistent area of showers and thunderstorms has already resulted in rainfall amounts ranging from 2 to 4 inches across parts of Southeast Michigan. Several more opportunities for rain may produce an additional 1 to 3 inches of rainfall by Friday night.
Some locations expected to flooding include Warren, Livonia, Troy, Southfield, Taylor, St. Clair Shores, Novi, Romulus, Grosse Pointe, Detroit, Canton, Sterling Heights, Dearborn, Royal Oak, Wyandotte, Birmingham, Northville, Westland and Farmington Hills.
Highly vulnerable areas include highways, streets and underpasses, as well as other drainage areas and low lying spots.
police check stranded motorists.https://t.co/d81WIlnWbc @FerndalePolice pic.twitter.com/przcbyS8iG
— Laura Teicher Bonnell (@LauraTbonnell) September 29, 2016
The Northbound Lodge under Cobo Center was closed just about all day long, opening to traffic after 5 p.m. (The exit ramp to Jefferson remained closed.
The Southfield Freeway northbound at Michigan Ave. was also closed due to flooding, but reopened shortly after 3 p.m. Southbound I-75 was closed for hours in Detroit but reopened around noon.
Here's the local forecast from the CBS Detroit weather team:
Thursday -- Thunderstorms. Cloudy with occasional rain overnight. High 67F. Low 56F.
Friday -- Cloudy with thundershowers. High 66F. Low 57F.
Saturday -- Thunderstorms. High 69F. Low 56F.
Sunday -- Partly cloudy early then mostly cloudy with a chance of rain showers. High 69F. Low 54F.
Monday -- Partly to mostly cloudy. High 70F. Low 54F.
Know before you go: Keep it tuned to WWJ Newsradio 950 for the latest forecast during traffic and weather, every 10 minutes on the 8s. See the live, local radar now at this link.