top of page

Floods can happen for a number of reasons.

Most Common Reasons For Floods in the U.P.

  1.  Snow melting during the spring, especially if there is increased snow accumulations over the winter.

  2. Snow melts during the spring can increase flood potential; also periods of warm weather over the winter months.

  3. Ice jams along rivers can mean localized flooding affecting rivers, streams and creeks.

Flood Watch means to Be Aware; Flood Warning means TAKE ACTION

2019 was a quiet year for Floods in the U.P.

One Flash Flood Warning was issued in September 2019 for southern Menominee County.

Most home insurance policies, in Michigan, do not include flood insurance; this is something you may want to talk to your home insurance company about and purchase a separate policy.

​

  • Water levels in the Great Lakes have always fluctuated. But climate change is throwing past patterns out of whack. Almost every Great Lake reached record levels in 2019.

  • The average water level for the lakes during November 2019 was within half a foot of record levels on Lake Superior as well as Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. Lake Erie and Lake Ontario were just over half a foot below their record level for this time of year.

  • Above-average precipitation has plagued the Midwest for most of this year. The dominant pattern featured a parade of storms that dumped heavy snow and rain in the central U.S. since last winter.

  • All this precipitation eventually flows into rivers and lakes, including the Great Lakes. As a result, the wetter-than-average trend in the central U.S. this year has kept Great Lakes water levels high.

bottom of page