Flood Advisory Issued for Marquette County as Snowmelt Causes Rising Waters
National Weather Service warns of ongoing flooding in Marquette County as snowmelt pushes rivers above flood stage and impacts local communities.
MARQUETTE, MICHIGAN — The National Weather Service issued multiple flood advisories for Marquette County on Sunday due to ongoing snowmelt causing small stream flooding and elevated river levels across the region.
The first advisory, issued at 12:01 p.m. EDT and effective until 2:00 p.m. EDT Monday, warns of minor flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas throughout central Upper Michigan. Gauge reports indicated snowmelt was causing small stream flooding, with overflowing poor drainage areas already resulting in minor flooding across the advisory area.
The communities of Skandia and Carlshend are expected to experience flooding impacts as river and stream flows remain elevated.
Middle Branch Escanaba River Reaches Critical Levels
A separate flood advisory remains in effect for the Middle Branch Escanaba River at Humboldt until early Sunday morning, April 26. The river stage measured 6.0 feet at 11:15 a.m. EDT Monday, already above the 5.0-foot bankfull stage and at the 6.0-foot action stage.
The National Weather Service forecasts the river will crest at 6.5 feet early Friday afternoon before falling below flood stage early Saturday morning. The 6.5-foot level marks the official flood stage for this section of the river.
Infrastructure and Property Concerns
Rising water levels pose specific threats to local infrastructure and residences along the river corridor. At 6.5 feet, County Road FX begins to flood, while water reaches the bottom of the County Road FX bridge at 7.0 feet.
More significant flooding concerns emerge at higher levels. At 8.0 feet, water again reaches the bottom of the County Road FX bridge, and at 8.3 feet, the residence located at 1068 County Road FX begins to flood.
The weather service advises residents in affected areas to monitor conditions closely and avoid driving through flooded roadways. Officials emphasize that minor flooding typically affects low-lying areas and locations with poor drainage systems.
Both advisories stem from the same weather pattern, as unseasonably warm temperatures across the Upper Peninsula accelerate snowmelt from the winter accumulation. The combination of melting snow and saturated ground conditions has created ideal circumstances for flooding in vulnerable areas.
Residents can access additional flood safety information and current river conditions through the National Weather Service website at www.weather.gov/safety/flood. Local emergency management officials continue monitoring conditions and will provide updates as the situation develops.
