Flood watches in effect as Beryl remnants reach Michigan

Metro Detroit residents in areas prone to flooding should be on alert for storms starting Tuesday afternoon, officials said.

The National Weather Service predicts severe storms and heavy rainfall between 1-3 inches across southeast Michigan through Wednesday morning, the Great Lakes Water Authority said in a press release.

Localized rainfall could surpass 4 inches, NWS Detroit announced on X.

The weather service issued a flood watch from Tuesday evening until Wednesday for a large swath of southeast Michigan.

NWS Grand Rapids also posted a flood watch for parts of central and south-central Michigan, including Clinton and Kalamazoo counties, where more rainfall is expected. As much as 3-5 inches could fall there through Wednesday evening, according to the weather service.

The precipitation coincides with remnants of Hurricane Beryl moving through the area, according to NWS.

“It’s weakening as it goes up,” Sara Schultz, a meteorologist with the weather service, said of the storm’s remnants. “That’s going to be our main threat: the heavy rain, the flooding potential.”

Rains will continue into Wednesday and early Thursday morning, according to the weather service. Temperatures in Metro Detroit will also oscillate between the low 80s on Tuesday into mid-70s on Wednesday and Thursday.

The GLWA system is still in dry condition and is working as designed but expected rainfall could flood the system’s capacity, according to the release.

Residents in low-lying areas should remain vigilant and remove valuable items from their basements out of an abundance of caution. Avoiding running washing machines and dishwashers during heavy rain could also be helpful, according to GLWA.

Meanwhile, the Federal Emergency Management Agency issued weather warnings for Midwest residents to stay alert ahead of the incoming weather.

“Stay alert by monitoring the local news and weather reports this week as severe weather moves through the area,” FEMA Region 5 Regional Administrator Tom Sivak said in a press release. “Flooding doesn’t just have the potential to cause costly damage, it can also be life threatening. Being prepared can save your life and give you peace of mind.”

Residents should charge mobile devices, stock up on supplies and establish communication plans in advance, the agency stated.

People should also avoid fallen power lines and trees and refrain from walking, swimming or driving through flood waters.