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Wayne, Washtenaw counties under flash flood warning as thunderstorms move in

Anna Bauman
Detroit Free Press
A flash flood warning is in effect for parts of southeastern Michigan on Tuesday, July 16.

The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning for two southeastern Michigan counties. 

Wayne and Washtenaw counties should be prepared for heavy rain and significant flooding Tuesday night, according to the NWS in Detroit/Pontiac. The warning is in effect until 10:45 p.m. 

Thunderstorms with heavy rain are moving east through the warned counties and up to two inches of rain have already fallen in some areas. More rain could exasperate already-flooded small creeks, streams, urban areas, streets and highways. 

Some locations that are expected to experience flooding are Warren, Ann Arbor, Livonia, Taylor, Romulus, Ypsilanti, Saline, Grosse Pointe, Manchester, Downtown Detroit, Canton, Detroit, Dearborn, Wyandotte, Trenton, Belleville, Dixboro, Greenfield Village, Belle Isle and Willis.

An additional 1 to 3 inches of rain could fall in the two counties under the warning. If this occurs in areas that have already received several inches of rain, "significant and dangerous flooding" is possible, according to NWS. 

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More:Flooding in Detroit's Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood could last for weeks

The following highways could experience flooding: 

  • I-75 between mile markers 34 and 58. I-275 between mile markers 12 and 29
  • I-96 between mile markers 172 and 192
  • M-10 between mile markers 1 and 11
  • M-14 between mile markers 1 and 14
  • M-39 between mile markers 6 and 10
  • US-23 between mile markers 28 and 45

The weather service recommends avoiding flooded roads and moving immediately to higher ground if you encounter flooded areas.