Story Created:
Mar 31, 2008
Story Updated:
Mar 31, 2008
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The month of March began with the area covered in snow, and it looks like it will end with the area covered in rain.
The National Weather Service has placed Southeastern Wisconsin on a flood watch all day today.
WTMJ Weather Plus Meteorologist Craig Koplien said that the weather could worsen as the temperature changes during the day.
"It's possible that the temperature will turn just cold enough late tonight before the rain ends to have the rain mix with or change over to some snow," he said.
He also said that this is a small possiblity, and if it does happen it wouldn't be enough snow to accumulate in the area.
Koplien said flooding isn't expected in the cities, but people in the outlying areas of Southeastern Wisconsin should be cautious of high water.
"It doesn't look like we're talking about any flooding in urban areas, or at least not any major flooding," he said. "The concern is mainly along rivers, creeks and streams."
Koplien said small hail is also possible during the day.
Flood Watch details:
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
334 AM CDT MON MAR 31 2008
...HEAVY RAIN EVENT UNDERWAY...
A STRENGTHENING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IN THE SOUTHERN PLAINS WILL TRACK FROM KANSAS TO NORTHERN ILLINOIS TODAY BEFORE CROSSING LOWER MICHIGAN TONIGHT.
VERY WARM AND MOIST AIR WILL BE DRAWN NORTH AHEAD OF THIS SYSTEM.
THIS WARM...MOIST AIR WILL THEN INTERACT WITH A STRONG WARM FRONT ACROSS NORTHERN ILLINOIS.
PERIODS OF RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THIS MORNING.
THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL IS EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...WHEN NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS WILL RUMBLE ACROSS SOUTHERN WISCONSIN. ONE TO TWO INCHES OF RAIN IS LIKELY...WILL LOCALLY AMOUNTS TO 4 INCHES.
THE COMBINATION OF THE HEAVY RAINS ALONG WITH EARLIER SNOW MELT...SATURATED AND FROZEN SOIL...WILL LIKELY PRODUCE ADDITIONAL
FLOODING OF RIVERS...CREEKS AND STREAMS.
IN ADDITION...THE HEAVY RAINFALL COULD PRODUCE FLOODING IN URBAN AREAS DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THUNDERSTORMS REPEATEDLY AFFECTING THE SAME AREA COULD PRODUCE FLASH FLOODING AS WELL.
MARQUETTE-GREEN LAKE-FOND DU LAC-SHEBOYGAN-COLUMBIA-DODGE-
WASHINGTON-OZAUKEE-JEFFERSON-WAUKESHA-MILWAUKEE-WALWORTH-RACINE-KENOSHA-INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MONTELLO...BERLIN...FOND DU LAC...SHEBOYGAN...PORTAGE...WISCONSIN DELLS...BEAVER DAM...WEST BEND...PORT WASHINGTON...JEFFERSON...LAKE MILLS...WAUKESHA...BROOKFIELD...MILWAUKEE...ELKHORN...LAKE GENEVA...RACINE...KENOSHA
334 AM CDT MON MAR 31 2008
...FLOOD WATCH NOW IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...
THE FLOOD WATCH IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF EAST CENTRAL WISCONSIN...SOUTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN AND SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN...INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS...IN EAST CENTRAL WISCONSIN...FOND DU LAC AND SHEBOYGAN. IN SOUTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN...COLUMBIA...GREEN LAKE AND MARQUETTE. IN SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN...DODGE...JEFFERSON...KENOSHA... MILWAUKEE...OZAUKEE...RACINE...WALWORTH...WASHINGTON AND WAUKESHA.
.. THROUGH LATE TONIGHT
.. STRONG LOW PRESSURE WILL TRACK FROM KANSAS TO NORTHERN ILLINOIS TODAY BEFORE CROSSING LOWER MICHIGAN TONIGHT.
WARM AND VERY MOIST GULF OF MEXICO AIR DRAWN NORTH INTO WISCONSIN AHEAD OF THE LOW WILL BE LIFTED UP AND OVER A STRONG WARM FRONT OVER NORTHERN
ILLINOIS.
PERIODS OF RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE COMMON ACROSS SOUTHERN WISCONSIN.
WIDESPREAD RAINFALL OF 1 TO 2 INCHES WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS TO 4 INCHES ARE EXPECTED.
SINCE MINOR RIVER FLOODING FROM EARLIER SNOW MELT IS ALREADY UNDERWAY...THIS COULD RESULT IN MODERATE TO PERHAPS MAJOR RIVER FLOODING.
WIDESPREAD FLOODING OF CREEKS...STREAMS...AND LOW LYING AREAS IS ALSO POSSIBLE.
LOCALLY HEAVY THUNDERSTORMSMAY ALSO PRODUCE FLASH FLOODING AND URBAN FLOODING AS WELL.
A FLOOD WATCH IS ISSUED WHEN CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR FLOODING.
YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE FLOOD WARNINGS.
THOSE LIVING IN AREAS PRONE TO FLOODING SHOULD BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLOODING DEVELOP.
Delivered by WeatherBank, Inc. MON MAR 31, 2008 04:34 AM EDT