Heavy Rainfall and Flooding Threats in the Midwest and Ohio Valley; Heat Continues in the Plains and Southeast

An active pattern will continue to bring heavy to excessive rainfall and flash flooding threats to the Midwest and Ohio Valley over the next couple of days. Dangerous heat continues across the central/southern Plains and Southeast U.S. into next week. There is potential for record-tying/breaking temperatures with many areas forecast to see their hottest temperatures so far this year. Read More >

Overview

A strong and very wet storm system arrived Friday night with rain overspreading the area. This rain was heavy for areas near and south of I-96, where 2-3 inches of rain fell. Daily rainfall records for January 11th were set at Grand Rapids, Muskegon, Lansing, and Kalamazoo. Colder air came in from the north on Saturday, changing precipitation over from rain, to a mixture of sleet and freezing rain.

Freezing rain and sleet continued into Saturday evening, before changing over to snowfall across the area, then ending overnight.

Ice amounts ranged from a trace toward Ludington to the northwest and I-94 to the south, and between 0.1 and 0.3 inches for the most part elsewhere. Snow amounts ranged from a couple of tenths across I-94, to as much as 3-4 inches toward Ludington and Baldwin.

Below is a map of the precipitation amounts, pictures of the flooding and ice from around the area, and radar loops during the event.

Total Rainfall Map Snowfall Map with Ice Amounts Overlaid

NWS Grand Rapids (NWS)

Photo Courtesy of Amy Hovey - Lowell, MI

Photo Courtesy of Victoria Lee - Delton, MI

Saranac, MI (NWS)

Flooding
Snow/Ice
Radar

Flooding

Photos


Photo Courtesy of Victoria Lee - Delton, MI	Wedgewood Park in Grandville, MI	Levels on Sycamore Creek near Holt, MI	Levels on the Grand River near Comstock Park, MI

Snow/Ice


Ice encasing trees in Saranac, MI	Icy sheath covering sidewalks in Grand Rapids, MI	Ice encasing a tire in Grand Rapids, MI	Ice completely coating on a truck in Grand Rapids, MI