NWS Grand Rapids has issued a flood watch early this morning for several central Michigan counties that continues into tomorrow night.

The watch was initated due to forecasts of excessive rainfall throughout the state over the next 48 hours. Rain, in quanities of 2-4 inches, is predicted to hit the Grand Rapids area as early as 11:00 P.M. on Tuesday night and continue north into Wednesday morning. This system is remnants of Hurricane Beryl, which made landfall in the southeast portion of Texas on Monday morning around 6:00 A.M.

Counties included in the watch from our listening area include Isabella, Kent, and Montcalm. Some cities and towns in this area include Cedar Springs, Edmore, Greenville, Howard City, Kent City, Mount Pleasant, Pierson, Rockford, Sheridan, Sparta, Stanton, and the Village of Lake Isabella.

The watch officially begins Tuesday, July 9, at 11:00 P.M. this evening and will last until 8:00 P.M. on Wednesday, July 10.

Be aware of roadways and areas of travel susceptible to runoff, such as bridges near creeks, streams, rivers, low-lying fields, and valleys. Please be alert to changing road conditions if you will be travelling during this watch period. Forecasts should be monitored for the chance of an upgrade to a flood warning.