If you’re planning to travel through parts of the Midwest right now, you may want to rethink your route or at least prepare for hazardous conditions. A dangerous and ongoing flooding situation is impacting large portions of Michigan and Wisconsin, with conditions severe enough to trigger states of emergency and widespread evacuations.
A Growing Flood Threat
The flooding isn’t coming from just one storm; it’s the result of a perfect storm of weather factors. Days of relentless rainfall combined with rapid snowmelt from an already historic winter have overwhelmed rivers, dams, and drainage systems across the Great Lakes region.
In many areas, 3 to 5 inches of rain fell in less than a week, pushing waterways to major flood stage. The situation has become so serious that officials warn that dams and levees are nearing failure, and some have already been compromised.
This isn’t just minor flooding, but rather it’s being described as “crisis mode” by state leaders, according to FOX News, and the threat isn’t over yet as more rain continues to move through the region.
Where It’s Worst
While flooding is affecting multiple areas, the northern and western parts of Michigan are among the hardest hit. Cities like Cheboygan and regions near Traverse City have seen rivers overflow dramatically, washing out roads, submerging neighborhoods, and even destroying bridges…