by Kevin Zimmermann
(WHBL) – Wet weather set a bullseye on the Lake Michigan shoreline from Sheboygan to Port Washington yesterday, drowning much of the extreme eastern parts of our area with up to a half foot of rain. Municipal crews rushed to manage the resulting flooding, closing roads, clearing drains and pumping out basements. Cedar Grove was particularly hard hit with several 6-inch rain reports, while Howards Grove in the north of the county had 3-1/2 inches.
Much of the rain had nowhere to go except to slowly soak in, as rivers and streams are at bank-full and beyond. A flood warning for the Sheboygan River is in effect until early Wednesday morning. The river in Sheboygan was at 10.7 feet at 3am Monday…some 2-1/2 feet above flood stage, while the river rose to nearly 12 feet west of the airport, closing Woodland Road between Rio and Willow roads. Sections of Alpine Road and Meadowlark Road near Sheboygan Falls are flooded and closed, and Kiwanis and Esslingen parks are inundated as well.
And just for good measure, record high Lake Michigan waters are being stirred by onshore winds, prompting a Lakeshore Flood Advisory until 7 this evening. 4-8 foot waves are likely to drive water onto the shoreline causing minor erosion. New rainfall of a half inch or more is still possible today.
