With more storms on the way and a flood warning out, Ann Arbor already has the sixth wettest spring on record
Cars make their way through a flooded portion of Geddes Road near Huron Parkway in Ann Arbor.
Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com
Editor's note: An incorrect year was given in an earlier version of this story for Ann Arbor's rainiest spring on record, due to a database error. The correct year is 1943, when 16.61 inches of rain fell.
What areas are flooded in Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County? Send us your photos
UPDATE 7:45 p.m.: Here's a photo gallery showing flooding throughout the Ann Arbor area. Here's video of flooding on Eisenhower Parkway, where at least three cars were stuck as of 6:20 p.m. Here's a report of cars stuck on flooded portions of Clark Road.
Pat Chrysan was looking at the forecast and weather radar this afternoon and not liking what she saw: a lot of rain headed straight for Washtenaw County for the second time today.
“Man ... we’re going to get hit again,” she said.
She said wet weather has made this the worst spring in the 32 years she and her husband, Bill, have owned the Putterz Golf and Games in Ypsilanti Township.
That’s little wonder. This is stacking up as one of the wettest springs on record in the Ann Arbor. The 12.69 inches of precipitation the area has received in March, April and May have already made it the sixth wettest spring on record.
A car drives through a large puddle from a backed up storm drain on Maiden Lane in Ann Arbor Wednesday afternoon.
Angela J. Cesere
Jim Harmon, director of operations for the Washtenaw County Road Commission, said some roads may have to be closed, though it was too early Wednesday afternoon to make a prediction about which ones. That depends on where the heaviest rain falls and storms are often very localized, he said. He did have some advice for motorists though.
“If you see standing water on the road, don’t drive through it,” he said. “Find an alternate route. It’s not worth the risk.” Harmon said the road could be washed out and it’s hard to judge the depth of standing water.
As for statistics, although no one would dispute we’ve had a lot of wet days this spring, a lot more water would be required to set any records. University of Michigan Weather observer Dennis Kahlbaum said the wettest spring on record in the Ann Arbor area was in 1943, when 16.61 inches of water fell. For the month of May, the Ann Arbor area had received 3.01 inches of rain as of 7 a.m. Wednesday. Normal rainfall for the entire month would be 2.97 inches.
But once again, rainfall totals for the month are unlikely to approach a record. The May record was set in 1943, when the Ann Arbor area received 10.49 inches of rain, Kahlbaum said.
Meanwhile, as skies darkened today, Pat Chrysan was contemplating calling employees scheduled to work later in the day at the miniature golf course and telling them not to bother showing up for work.
The Chrysans have actually shut the business down several days this year because of rain, the first time they have ever done that. Business was off about 40 percent in April this year compared to last year, Bill Chrysan said, and May business is down about 10 or 20 percent.
That means the Chrysans have had to put off some maintenance and improvements they might have otherwise done, but said overall they’re in good shape. Bill Chrysan was looking optimistically toward the weekend.
The forecast still calls for a chance of showers on Saturday, but Sunday and Monday look dry with partly to mostly sunny skies and highs in the 80s.
Time to break out the sunglasses and head for the pool.
For updated forecasts and conditions throughout the day, visit AnnArbor.com's weather page.
Comments
bedrog
Thu, May 26, 2011 : 11:53 a.m.
Just got back from Minneapolis which had its first municipal tornado ( and a bad one) in 30 years to find this flooding here ....aaargh!! ( although the mallard ducks swimming on our neighbors lawn seem to be happy). But at least we can be thankful we're not further south.
Kai Petainen
Thu, May 26, 2011 : 2:44 a.m.
a few more photos i took a short while ago... (this time a bit more artsy) <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ahknaten/sets/72157626806006708/" rel='nofollow'>http://www.flickr.com/photos/ahknaten/sets/72157626806006708/</a> and a youtube video <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBKbE2rKpk4" rel='nofollow'>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBKbE2rKpk4</a>
jns131
Thu, May 26, 2011 : 2:36 a.m.
Looks like that one stretch of Liberty at Zeeb is going to be closed...for a long time. Normally is after a huge rain storm. I love going thru these puddles. Nice big wosh!!
joe.blow
Thu, May 26, 2011 : 1:21 a.m.
So, how much rain did we get today?
Rork Kuick
Thu, May 26, 2011 : 1:01 p.m.
Ann Arbor 1.98 yesterday. 5.41 for the month. KMIDEXTE3 reported 2.64. My yard got more than that, near Hudson Mills. Ed Vielmetti has maps and a lesson on his blog.
KJMClark
Thu, May 26, 2011 : 12:35 a.m.
Northside school got hit by lightning too. It did some serious damage to the old chimney, blasting chunks of chimney and bricks up to about 50' away. It did some significant damage to one of the custodians' cars. Luckily it didn't hurt the school otherwise, and none of the kids were out at the time.
jns131
Thu, May 26, 2011 : 2:38 a.m.
Is it in the budget to get a new car for the custodian? He can sue for a new one yanno. Great to hear the children missed it. Sad to hear the custodians are going to force the district to pay out for new cars or damages. Wish mine was there. Need a new paint job.
blahblahblah
Thu, May 26, 2011 : 12:29 a.m.
It appears the river is cresting above 23 ft., a new record, if the meter is operating correctly. <a href="http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=dtx&gage=annm4&view=1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1%22" rel='nofollow'>http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=dtx&gage=annm4&view=1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1%22</a>
Rork Kuick
Thu, May 26, 2011 : 12:14 p.m.
That looks like it might be one bad reading. waterdata.usgs.gov shows a peak just above 16.5, about what Kai has been reporting. Looks like our river touched 4000 cfs for a moment. I'm worried about what today will bring, with the upper river just starting to deliver it's goods, and more rain possible, which makes the infamous Allen creek go crazy almost instantly. Mallets creek went over 1000 cfs last night. Newer development's retention and detention structures look close to maxed out, but I am grateful to them. We need more engineering like that, everywhere.
catbehindthecouch
Thu, May 26, 2011 : 12:21 a.m.
thanks to everyone who has posted something useful here... making each other aware of problem areas around town is exactly what this kind of forum should be used for. Keep it up, as it looks like the rain plans to!
Sean
Wed, May 25, 2011 : 11:17 p.m.
Flooding by Barracuda Networks - Depot St <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cayRVqw6aCw&feature=player_profilepage" rel='nofollow'>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cayRVqw6aCw&feature=player_profilepage</a>
Kai Petainen
Wed, May 25, 2011 : 10:45 p.m.
long and shaky video here: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ahknaten/5759482481/in/set-72157626806006708/" rel='nofollow'>http://www.flickr.com/photos/ahknaten/5759482481/in/set-72157626806006708/</a>
Kai Petainen
Wed, May 25, 2011 : 10:43 p.m.
some photos/video of flooding here: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ahknaten/sets/72157626806006708/" rel='nofollow'>http://www.flickr.com/photos/ahknaten/sets/72157626806006708/</a>
Newzdog
Wed, May 25, 2011 : 9:51 p.m.
Oh boy...raw sewage into the Huron River!
Kai Petainen
Wed, May 25, 2011 : 9:47 p.m.
<a href="http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=dtx&gage=annm4&view=1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1%22" rel='nofollow'>http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=dtx&gage=annm4&view=1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1%22</a> it hit 16.38 feet. 5th highest was 16.74 feet in 1974 only a bit more and we have a top 5 flooding this happens at 16 and 15 feet. "16 RIVERSIDE PARK DIRT PARKING LOT FLOODS. WATER MAY BEGIN TO BACKUP STREET DRAINS ON ISLAND DRIVE BY ISLAND PARK. 15 FLOODING BEGINS AT ISLAND PARK, RIVERSIDE PARK AND FULLER RECREATION AREA.
Kai Petainen
Wed, May 25, 2011 : 11:07 p.m.
16.59 feet. 0.15 feet to go.
Kai Petainen
Wed, May 25, 2011 : 9:22 p.m.
huron river at 3460 cfs <a href="http://waterdata.usgs.gov/mi/nwis/uv/?site_no=04174500" rel='nofollow'>http://waterdata.usgs.gov/mi/nwis/uv/?site_no=04174500</a> that broke the record of 3100 cfs in 1943 island park is flooded. you can't walk to the gazebo.
jns131
Thu, May 26, 2011 : 2:40 a.m.
Looks like those apartments are gonna flood again. Always do. Silly person who built those near a river. What a rain storm that was. We are expected more later tonight. Just hope I can get the camper north before it hits again.
dotdash
Wed, May 25, 2011 : 9:03 p.m.
As capersdaddy said, water is running over the road just beyond the intersection of Huron Pkwy and Fuller/Geddes Rd. More trouble: the traffic light is not functioning normally (flashing red in all directions). The drivers are handling it pretty well, but it's backing up.
GoBlue1984
Wed, May 25, 2011 : 7:45 p.m.
"With more storms on the way and a flood warning out, Ann Arbor already has the sixth wettest spring on record." That's what she said.
Leanne
Wed, May 25, 2011 : 7:58 p.m.
Get some new material. The "that's what she said" comedic genre has been played out enough.
Christy King
Wed, May 25, 2011 : 7:42 p.m.
I mirror a comment made previously, though I worry for our own roads and what the continued rains will mean in terms of lost revenue and mosquitoes, I am still relieved more than anything. I have friends in Alabama, Missouri, Texas and Oklahoma that have lost large sections of their TOWNS. Homes, business, schools, hospitals...it could always be worse. I hope all of your families and friends are safe.
Jon Saalberg
Wed, May 25, 2011 : 7:26 p.m.
As a northwest sider, I just traveled around our area, and the following intersections or near intersections are impassable: Beakes at First; Summit, east of Main, and First and Felch.
Bertha Venation
Wed, May 25, 2011 : 8:35 p.m.
Thanks, Jon. Guess I'll have to find another route home. Usually hit Beakes and First. guess I'll have to take 4th or Main.
WalkingJoe
Wed, May 25, 2011 : 7:21 p.m.
Well let's just be thankful that so far we've been spared the kind of weather they've been having south and west of us. My prayers go out to the latest victims of the tornadoes in the South and Midwest.
Rork Kuick
Wed, May 25, 2011 : 6:57 p.m.
The nerd complained in his pain: "Normal rainfall" for the month might mean the average, or perhaps the median, but it sure doesn't mean "normal".
capersdaddy
Wed, May 25, 2011 : 6:48 p.m.
Fuller Rd in front of Huron High is literally washing into the river. I saw that it is planned for re-paving this year, but it needs some help stat...usually some standing water at the dip anytime it rains.
capersdaddy
Thu, May 26, 2011 : 12:09 a.m.
yup, sinkholes and all - they patched one in the past 24. i've seen crews digging irrigation around this dip at least 3 times this spring. check it out for yourself.
Rod Johnson
Wed, May 25, 2011 : 8:31 p.m.
Literally?
Macabre Sunset
Wed, May 25, 2011 : 6:47 p.m.
The corollary is we'll probably have the worst mosquito season in recent memory - and last year was memorable. I hope the state disease control boards plan significant spraying - though I'm not holding out much hope.
jns131
Thu, May 26, 2011 : 2:43 a.m.
Time to see if those mosquito plants work. Heard they did. I just don't want them having me for lunch, dinner or a snack. Otherwise, gotta love deat in the morning.
sh1
Wed, May 25, 2011 : 11:49 p.m.
Studies show that spraying for mosquitoes actually makes the problem worse. Mosquitoes reproduce quickly; their predators (such as dragonflies) do not. So when a sweep is made of an area and mosquitoes and dragonflies are all killed, the next mosquito generation has a field day.
GoBlue1984
Wed, May 25, 2011 : 11:08 p.m.
This just in: Rick Snyder cuts funds from disease control board. Just wait...