Content about Natural Disaster

4:40 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011

UPDATE: 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011

BLISSFIELD — The National Weather Service reports that the River Raisin has crested at the U.S. 223 bridge at 685.62 feet - the second-highest level since records began being kept. 

UPDATE: 3:30 p.m. Wed., Nov. 30, 2011

This summer’s wave of unusually hot, dry weather has scorched crops in Lenawee County and across the Midwest. 

BLISSFIELD — Flooding of the River Raisin has caused organizers of Sunday's River Raisin Festival May Day Run to move the start and finish to downtown Blissfield as Bachmayer and Ellis parks are under water.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., (February 25, 2011) – Consumers Energy has restored electric service to 96 percent of the 214,000 customers affected by the winter storm last weekend. The majority of the remaining 8,000 electric customers are expected to be restored by midnight tonight.

A severe ice storm struck southeastern Michigan Sunday afternoon and evening and left many without power on Monday. Schools and businesses throughout the area were also closed due to the power outages. It was estimated the power went out at 1:30 a.m. Monday.

WHITEFORD — A triple-fatal, head-on traffic collision occurred at 5:36 a.m. on U.S. 223 near Tabbert Road, according to a press release by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. The crash resulted in the deaths of three people, including two Blissfield residents.

   WHITEFORD – Flooding causes many headaches to those affected by it. Basements are ruined, personal possessions run the risk of being lost forever, and one’s property sees sometimes irreversible damage. But since most of the people reading these words live in a state surrounded by the Great Lakes and with the River Raisin running through the area, flooding is a reality. 

The National Weather Service in Detroit/Pontiac has issued a tornado warning for Northern Lenawee County until 10 p.m. tonight. At 9:19 the National Weather Service Doppler Radar indicated a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado. It was near Brooklyn and moving east at 30 MPH. The storm is expected to strike Clinton at 9:40 p.m., Tecumseh at 9:45 p.m. and Britton at 9:55 p.m.

Residents are advised to take cover in an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building and avoid windows. If in a mobile home, vehicle or outdoors, move to the closest substantial shelder and protect themselves from flying debris.

The thunderstorm is expected to have winds of 60 MPH and three-quarters of an inch hail.

The brunt of the storm appears to be north of Blissfield.

Severe weather could be an issue for the next few hours.

The National Weather Service in Detroit/Pontiac has issued an urban and small stream flood advisory for Lenawee and Monroe counties. The advisory is in effect until 10 p.m.

The NWS Doppler radar indicated an area of heavy rainfall across advisory area at 3:54 p.m. Radar estimates show 1 to 2.5 inches of rain has fallen since last night, with the highest amounts falling near the state line.

Runoff from this rainfall will cause minor flooding to occur, especially along small streams and near low water crossings. Some locations that will experience minor flooding include Blissfield, Deerfield, Ottawa Lake, Petersburg, Adrian, Dundee, Monroe, Hudson, Morenci, Temperance, Clayton, Ida, Lambertville, Lunda Pier, Onsted and Maybe.

The NWS reports that the rain will persist into the evening. An additional 1 to 1.5 inches of rain is possible. Excessive runoff from the storm will cause more minor flooding of small creeks and streams, country roads, as well as farmland along the banks and creeks of the streams.