The National Weather Service has issued flood watches throughout Michigan due to ongoing rain and potential heavy downpours on Wednesday. Showers and storms could lead to flooding in rivers, creeks, and urban areas, with additional winter weather advisories for freezing rain and snow in parts of the state. Power outages have been reported, though most customers remain unaffected.
On Wednesday, March 11, 2026, the National Weather Service declared flood watches across much of Michigan as a system of rain swept through the region. In southeast Michigan, the watch extends through 2 p.m. and covers counties including Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw, and Wayne. Officials anticipate showers and storms producing heavy rainfall, which, combined with runoff, may cause overflows in rivers, creeks, streams, and low-lying spots, particularly in urban zones.
"Thunderstorm activity is likely until the early afternoon hours," the agency stated, noting the highest chances for severe weather south of the Interstate 94 corridor. Isolated storms could generate gusty winds reaching 60 mph during the morning. Further north, a flood watch until 11 a.m. applies to areas in central, south central, southwest, and west central Michigan, encompassing counties such as Gratiot, Montcalm, Clinton, Ionia, Allegan, Barry, Kent, Ottawa, and Muskegon, along with Eaton, Ingham, Van Buren, Kalamazoo, Calhoun, and Jackson.
"Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks," according to the NWS, with potential flooding in areas of poor drainage and cities. By 6 a.m., preliminary reports indicated 1.25 inches of rain at MBS International Airport in Freeland, 1.5 inches in Saginaw, and 2.27 inches at Tuscola Area Airport.
Winter conditions are also affecting other parts. A winter weather advisory for the Tri-Cities region and northern Thumb lasts until 10 a.m., warning of freezing rain that could accumulate up to 0.10 inch and disrupt the morning commute. Freezing rain is possible in portions of central Lower Michigan, from Baldwin east through Evart to Clare and Harrison, potentially causing a light ice glaze and power outages from easterly winds.
In northern Michigan, freezing rain, sleet, and snow may persist through Wednesday evening, with heaviest icing in the morning to early afternoon and snow arriving late morning through late afternoon. An ice storm warning is active until 5 p.m. for Alpena, Crawford, Oscoda, Alcona, Roscommon, and Ogemaw counties. The Upper Peninsula faces widespread snowfall through Wednesday morning, with winter storm warnings in place for western, central, and eastern areas; accumulations of 4 to 6 inches are expected, and up to 10 inches in parts of Marquette County. Lake effect snow could continue in north-central and eastern sections into the evening.
As of 1:30 p.m., power disruptions were limited in the Lower Peninsula: DTE Energy reported 317 customers without service, affecting less than 0.1% of its total, while Consumers Energy noted 9,077 outages, impacting about 0.5% of customers. Earlier, at around midday, DTE had 743 affected and Consumers over 4,800.
Detroit's Wednesday forecast includes rain with a high of 62 degrees and low of 30, exceeding the March norms of 45.9 and 28.6. Sunny skies and a high of 43 are predicted for Thursday, followed by possible accumulating snow in southeast Michigan on Friday morning with winds over 40 mph. Another snow event with strong winds may occur Saturday night through Sunday.
