Flood Warning Issued for Red Cedar River at East Lansing in Ingham County

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Grand Rapids MI has issued a Flood Warning for the Red Cedar River at East Lansing. This alert indicates that minor flooding is likely and expected within the specified timeframe.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically affects Ingham County, Michigan, with primary impacts centered on the Red Cedar River at East Lansing.

What You Should Do

Residents and motorists are urged to follow the safety mantra: “Turn around, don’t drown.” Most flood-related deaths occur in vehicles. Motorists should never attempt to drive around barricades or through flooded areas. Residents should monitor local conditions and avoid low-lying areas near the river.

Expected Conditions

Minor flooding is forecast for the area. As of 9:30 AM EST on Saturday, the river stage was measured at 5.9 feet, approaching the bankfull stage of 6.0 feet. The river is expected to rise above the 7.0-foot flood stage on Sunday morning, reaching a predicted crest of 7.5 feet by Monday morning. At a stage of 7.0 feet, minor flooding of low-lying areas, adjacent parks, and farmland is expected. This forecast crest of 7.5 feet is comparable to a historical crest recorded on January 10, 2008.

Timeline

The Flood Warning is effective starting Sunday morning, March 8, at 8:00 AM EST. The river is forecast to fall below flood stage early Wednesday morning, with the warning currently set to expire at 2:00 PM EDT on Wednesday, March 11.