Tropical Systems Bring Rain and Flooding to Southwest Lower Michigan
A one, two punch from a wave of low pressure moving along a slow moving front and the remmants of Hurricace Ike brought heavy rain to Southwest Lower Michigan. The rain started on Friday and persisted most of the weekend. The initial rainfall involved a wave of low pressure moving along a slow moving cold front. The front stalled over the region as the low approached pulling warm humid air northward into the frontal system. The clash of airmasses produced a period of heavy rainfall over the area Friday night into Saturday. Then the remnants of Hurricane Ike were drawn into the frontal zone producing another period of heavy rain across Southern Lower Michigan on Sunday. The frontal system has now moved towards the east coast with high pressure and with it cooler drier air into the region.
Rainfall totals were impressive as expected when tropical moisture is involved. Some of the highest storm total rainfall include: 10.50 inches at Augusta, 10.28 inches in Plainwell, 10.25 inches in Battle Creek and 9.50 inches near Otsego. Heavy rain fell from roughly the Interstate 96 corridor including Grand Rapids and Lansing southward. The heaviest rain though has occurred along the Interstate 94 corridor.
Flooding concerns will stretch into at least the middle of the work week as rainfall routes from the smaller creeks and streams into the main stem rivers. Locations along the Grand River from Ionia to Grand Haven will be dealing with elevated flows and flooding in some areas through the end of the week.
River level observations and forecasts can be found here http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=grr
Flood Warning information can be found here www.crh.noaa.gov/product.php
Flood Statement information can be found here www.crh.noaa.gov/product.php
NWS Doppler Radar Rainfall Estimates
Here are some photos of the flooding across Kalamazoo County courtesy of WWMT-TV.
Here are some photos from Kent County:
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