Spring Flood Forecast

With temperatures rising, there is potential for flooding through the Keweenaw.

Meterologist and Hydrology Program Manager at the National Weather Service in Marquette, Evan Kutta, spoke on what to expect. 

“Each spring melt is a little bit different according to a combination of factors, including how much water is contained in the snow pack, the depth of frost in the soils, amount of ice on waterways, including both inland streams and rivers and also on Lake Superior too, and what weather occurs too… the Paint, Michigammi, Sturgeon, Escanaba, and Chocolay Rivers are all rivers that typically flood during the spring. That does include the Sturgeon River near Chassell. Just about every spring the snow melts off the- the spine of the Keweenaw melts- into the basin and gives them some flooding issues there… It’s difficult to say how it’s actually going to melt or what the problems will be. The main positive factor about the current weather forecast is that we’re not looking at any major rainfall events coming up. So it is going to warm up, and the snow will melt pretty quick, but the additional rainfall on top of that is what gives us the biggest problems, and we’re not expecting that right now” – Even Kutta, Meterologist and Hydrology Program Manager at the NWS in Marquette

Spring also brings out the outdoor adventurers who may need to be on the lookout for flooding on the trails.

“I think that is actually probably more likely than… the major highways across the U.P. because a lot of those trails go back through like swampy areas, and the swampy areas are going to be a swamp this spring… the swampy areas could end up actually being a little bit bigger and might spill out onto some of those ATV tracks.” – Even Kutta, Meterologist and Hydrology Program Manager at the NWS in Marquette

Please remember that the majority of cars can float in about a foot of water, so it is never safe to drive through a flooded road.