Severe Flooding Expected Across Southeastern Michigan After Torrential Rains

DETROIT, MI — Flash flood warnings have been issued for parts of Wayne, McComb and Oakland counties, according to the National Weather Service. The warnings were to expire at 9:45 p.m. ET today. The weather service warned of heavy flooding and road closures, especially along Interstate 696, Michigan Route 10, and the Southfield Freeway.

The weather service predicted that thunderstorms would produce torrential rainfall of up to 4 inches across the region. Additional rainfall would continue into the night with “less organized pockets of showers and thunderstorms” tracking through the region, which would worsen flood conditions.

The weather service issued a warning to drivers not to proceed through flooded roadways. “Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flooddeaths occur in vehicles,” the weather service said. (For more local news, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Detroit Patch. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

The weather service noted these cities for heavy rain: Warren, Livonia, Troy, Southfield, Taylor, Pontiac, Romulus, Downtown Detroit, Sterling Heights, Dearborn, Royal Oak, Wyandotte,Birmingham, Rochester, Westland, Farmington Hills, Rochester Hills, Dearborn Heights and Lincoln Park.

Image by the Associated Press