EVART, Mich. (April 14, 2014) — The National Weather Service issued new forecast information Monday morning suggesting that parts of the Muskegon River could reach their highest levels on record by Tuesday morning.
The above image is the hydrograph showing past, current, and forecast river levels at Evart (in Osceola County, along U.S. 10 east of Reed City). As of midday Monday, the river was already about to reach the ‘major flooding’ category of 14 feet. The current forecast, after factoring in all of the rainfall from the weekend, indicates that the crest will be near 15 feet early in the day Tuesday.
15 feet would match the highest-ever recorded flooding at the Evart site, reached in the spring of 1989.
From the text of the flood warning:
“…FORECAST FLOODING INCREASED FROM MODERATE TO RECORD SEVERITY…
THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR
THE MUSKEGON RIVER AT EVART.
* UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
* AT 10:45 AM MONDAY THE STAGE WAS 13.6 FEET.
* FLOOD STAGE IS 12.0 FEET.
* MODERATE FLOODING IS OCCURRING AND RECORD FLOODING IS FORECAST.
* FORECAST…THE RIVER WILL CONTINUE RISING TO NEAR 15.0 FEET BY
AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT THEN BEGIN FALLING.
* IMPACT…AT 14.5 FEET…HIGH WATER AFFECTS THE SEWAGE TREATMENT
PLANT AND BACKS UP INTO STORM DRAINS INTO THE CITY OF EVART.
* FLOOD HISTORY…THIS CREST COMPARES TO A PREVIOUS CREST OF 15.0 FEET
ON MAR 31 1989.”
Significant flooding will continue to make its way through the Muskegon River basin, affecting Mecosta and Newaygo counties in particular through midweek.
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