Detroit, Michigan – Drivers across southeast Michigan could encounter flooded roads and hazardous travel conditions beginning Wednesday afternoon as a widespread round of thunderstorms brings the potential for heavy rainfall through Thursday morning.
According to the National Weather Service in Detroit/Pontiac, showers and thunderstorms will become increasingly widespread Wednesday afternoon and continue overnight into Thursday. Forecasters indicate moderate confidence that many communities could receive more than 1 inch of rainfall, with repeated downpours capable of producing widespread totals between 1 and 2 inches or more.
The Weather Prediction Center has placed much of Lower Michigan under a Slight Risk, or Level 2 out of 4, for flash flooding Wednesday and Wednesday night. The greatest concern centers on urban areas where storm drains can become overwhelmed during periods of intense rainfall.
Cities including Detroit, Ann Arbor, Flint, Pontiac, Warren, Dearborn, Sterling Heights, Lansing and Jackson could experience water-covered roads, poor visibility and localized street flooding during the heaviest storms. Major travel corridors including I-75, I-94, I-96, M-59 and I-696 may be impacted during both the evening commute and overnight hours.
While isolated heavy rain is possible Tuesday, the primary flooding threat develops Wednesday afternoon and persists into Thursday morning. Residents should avoid driving through flooded roadways, monitor forecasts closely and ensure they have multiple ways to receive weather alerts.
Additional flood watches or weather advisories could be issued as confidence increases ahead of the midweek storm system.
