Marquette, Michigan – Rising water levels could begin impacting roads and low-lying areas across the Upper Peninsula as early as tonight, with heavy rain combining with melting snowpack to rapidly increase runoff. Drivers along US-41 and M-28 should prepare for water-covered roads overnight into Friday, especially near rivers and smaller streams.
According to the National Weather Service in Marquette, a Flood Watch remains in effect from 8 p.m. EDT Thursday through Saturday morning for much of western and central Upper Michigan. This includes Marquette, Houghton, Iron, Dickinson, Baraga, Ontonagon, and Keweenaw counties, where deep snowpack is primed to melt quickly under rainfall.
Communities such as Marquette, Houghton, Iron Mountain, L’Anse, and Ontonagon could see sharp rises in river levels within hours of heavier rainfall. Smaller creeks and streams are expected to respond fastest, with water potentially overtopping banks and flooding nearby roads and basements. Rural areas and flood-prone locations face the highest risk.
Residents are urged to monitor river levels closely and avoid driving through flooded roadways. Just a few inches of moving water can stall vehicles or sweep them off the road. Those in flood-prone areas should prepare to move valuables to higher ground and ensure sump pumps are working.
The flood risk will persist through Saturday morning as runoff continues, and additional warnings may be issued if rivers approach or exceed flood stage.
