Heavy rains cause Lower Rouge flooding
As southeastern Michigan remains under a flash flood watch through late Monday night, some communities experienced river flooding.
In Dearborn and Inkster, police issued a flood warning for the Lower Rouge River until 8:06 a.m. Wednesday. Rainfall has caused the river to remain above flood stage, police said Monday evening.
"Another round of showers and thunderstorms could bring another inch to the basin tonight, which would cause another rise in the river," Dearborn Police wrote in an alert to residents.
Minor flooding has occurred and water levels are expected to reach 11.3 feet — well above the 10-foot flood threshold — by Tuesday afternoon, officials said.
Showers started to move into southeast Michigan Monday afternoon as the area is under a flash flood watch due to a stalled weather front toting an abnormally high moisture content.
According to the National Weather Service, a flash flood watch means conditions may develop that lead to flooding.
In response to the extreme weather, the Wayne County Sheriff's Office postponed its annual Youth and Senior Education Fund Golf fundraiser scheduled for Tuesday. Several days of rain has caused challenges at the Warren Valley Golf Course in Dearborn Heights, officials wrote in a statement Monday.
"We were certainly looking forward to this because it is our only fundraiser of the year for the foundation which gives all of the proceeds to youth and seniors," Sheriff Benny N. Napoleon wrote.
A new date for the fundraiser will be announced soon, officials said.
The flash flood watch went into effect at 2 p.m. and will last until midnight, according to meteorologist Sara Schultz, working from the White Lake Township station.
"We're looking at a very moist environment that should bring heavy rains like Sunday night," Schultz said.
The weather service predicted 1 to 3 inches of rain could wash across southeastern Michigan on Monday, with some localized areas receiving more than that amount.
The area covered by the warning include Genesee, Lapeer, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, Shiawasee, St. Clair, Washtenaw and Wayne counties.
Flooding is causing problems in outstate areas with the weather service reporting the Looking Glass River near Eagle in Clinton County has overflowed its banks.
Flooding is possible along the Grand River in Ionia County, Sycamore Creek in Ingham County, the Thornapple River in Barry County and the Kalamazoo River in Calhoun County.
While the metro area may see drier, sunnier weather Tuesday, the sodden conditions that smothered the Metro area over the weekend will return again Wednesday.
Temperatures from Wednesday through Friday are expected to be in the upper 70s with night time lows of about 60 degrees.
According to the weather service, so far this month, the Metro area has received 2.58 inches of rain, which is 0.87 over the norm of 1.71 inches.
This follows slightly higher rainfall totals for the spring season — March, April and May — with 8.94 inches combined. The area usually gets about 8.56 inches during this time period, said Rachel Kulick, meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
"Overall we were pretty close to normal," she said. "Our May was wetter than normal. March was dryer than normal. It all balanced out."
The record high for June 15 is 93 degrees set in 1994. The record low is 42 set in 1999.
TGreenwood@detroitnews.com
(313) 222-2023
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Extended forecast
Monday: A flash flood warning is in effect until midnight. There is a 60 percent chance of rain with the possibility of 1-3 inches of precipitation across southeastern Michigan. The high temperature will be about 82.
Monday night: Chance of precipitation is 60 percent with a flash flood warning in effect until midnight.
Tuesday: Cloudy with a high near 78.
Tuesday night: Partly cloudy with a low of about 55.
Wednesday: There is a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. The high will be about 73.
Wednesday night: There is a 50 percent chance of rain, with a low of 64.
Thursday: There is a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. The high will be about 77.
Thursday night: Mostly cloudy with a low around 58.
Friday: Mostly sunny with a high near 74.
Friday night: A chance of showers with a low of about 58.