The National Weather Service has issued active flood warnings across parts of Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin following heavy overnight rainfall that sent multiple rivers above or near flood stage
Heavy overnight rainfall has triggered active flood warnings across three Midwest states on today, April 4, with the National Weather Service monitoring river levels and road conditions in multiple counties. Residents in affected areas are being urged to avoid flooded roads, stay away from rising waterways and follow local emergency guidance closely throughout the day. Here is what we know about the three active flood situations.
Illinois: 6 counties and northwest Indiana under warning
Overnight rainfall of 1 to 3 inches fell across a wide swath of northeastern Illinois on Friday night, with localized totals approaching 4 inches in parts of central Livingston County. The accumulation pushed rivers and drainage systems in the region above capacity, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a flood warning covering Cook, Grundy, Kankakee, La Salle, Livingston and Will counties. Northwest Indiana is also included in the warning zone. Residents in all of these areas are advised to monitor water levels near their homes and avoid driving through any roadway that appears flooded or blocked by barricades.
Michigan: Maple River in Clinton County rising toward flood stage
The National Weather Service office in Grand Rapids issued a flood warning for the Maple River at Maple Rapids in Clinton County at 12:48 a.m. today, with the warning expected to remain in effect through Sunday, April 12. As of late Friday night, the river was sitting at 8.5 feet, already above its bankfull stage of 7 feet. The NWS forecast that the river would rise above flood stage of 9 feet by this morning and continue climbing to a crest of approximately 9.9 feet by Monday evening.
At that level, minor flooding of County Line Road is expected. The same crest height of 9.9 feet was last recorded on this stretch of the Maple River in April 2023. A separate warning covering the Portage River near Vicksburg in Kalamazoo County is also in effect.
Wisconsin: multiple rivers flooding in Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha counties
Three river systems in southeastern Wisconsin are under active flood warnings affecting Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha counties. The Oak Creek in South Milwaukee reached 8.3 feet as of 6 a.m. Today, well above its bankfull stage of 5.5 feet, with minor flooding already occurring along walking paths bordering the creek. A separate warning covers the Root River at Franklin in Milwaukee County and the Root River Canal at Raymond in Racine County, both of which are expected to remain under warning until 1 a.m. Sunday, April 5.
In the Village of Raymond, floodwaters have reached the back yards of homes near the river at 11 feet, and Koerber Park on 6 Mile Road is underwater. In Franklin, a low section of Oakwood Road is flooded. The river at Franklin was sitting at 7.9 feet as of 4 a.m. and is expected to crest at 8.3 feet Saturday afternoon before falling below flood stage by evening. The Fox River near New Munster in Lake and Kenosha counties is also included in active warnings.
What to do if you are in a flood warning area
Anyone in or near a flood warning zone should treat current conditions with caution and stay informed through local emergency alerts. Driving around road barricades or attempting to cross flooded roads is never safe. Just 6 inches of moving water can knock a person off their feet, and as little as 2 feet of moving water can sweep a vehicle off a roadway entirely. If local authorities issue an evacuation order, leaving immediately is always the safest course of action.
Children should be kept away from all floodwater, which can conceal submerged debris, rocks and unstable ground. A battery-powered radio or weather alert device is recommended for households that may lose power during ongoing storm activity. Anyone uncertain about road conditions or local safety orders should check with the National Weather Service at weather.gov or follow local emergency management channels for the most current information.
SOURCE: WTMJ, yahoo