Metro Detroiters fear more flooding


May’s record-breaking rain totals are washing over into June, causing Metro area meteorologists to keep a wary eye on rain-swollen creeks and rivers in southeastern Michigan.

“We do have a flood watch all across lower Michigan, from the northern suburbs to the Ohio border,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Bill Deedler.

“We’re watching a weather system that’s working its way across northern Indiana and Ohio and which may come up into Michigan. We’re not sure how much we could get, but we are keeping an eye on the rivers.”

Officially, heavy rain was forecast across the region for today.

According to Deedler, May’s 8.46 inches of rain was 5.5 inches above normal. Rainfall on Wednesday varied from 2 inches in Waterford to 0.33 inches at Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

“Most of the Metro area received a little under an inch,” Deedler said.

Police in Utica are keeping a close eye on the Clinton River, which overflowed its banks little more than a week ago, flooding numerous streets, including River Vista and Davis Drive.

“There are no reported problems at this time, but we are making hourly checks on the river,” said police dispatcher Markay Kanapsky.

The recent downpours also flooded Waterford’s Scott Lake Road, where water levels reached the windows of some homes. A dispatcher for the Waterford Police Department said the Clinton River was remaining in its bed ... for now