HYDROLOGIC OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA 1020 AM EST FRI JAN 17 2014
...WIDESPREAD ICE IMPACTING AREA RIVERS...
VERY COLD TEMPERATURES HAVE CAUSED ICE TO FORM ON NEARLY ALL RIVERS ACROSS NORTHERN INDIANA...SOUTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN AND FAR NORTHWEST OHIO. RECENT WARMER TEMPERATURES AND RAINFALL CAUSED SOME SNOWMELT WHICH IN TURN HAS CAUSED RIVERS TO RISE. AS THE RIVERS HAVE RISEN... ICE HAS FRACTURED AND BEGUN FLOWING DOWNSTREAM. THIS CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS IF THE ICE GETS STUCK CREATING A BUILD UP IN THE RIVER /CALLED AN ICE JAM/. THE RIVER BEHIND THE JAM WILL BEGIN TO RISE AND MAY CAUSE FLOODING. SHOULD THE JAM BREAK UP SUDDENLY...FLOODING IS POSSIBLE DOWNSTREAM AS WATER IS RELEASED.
IT IS POSSIBLE THAT FLOODING WILL NOT BE DETECTED BY AREA RIVER GAUGES. THEREFORE...FLOODING MAY OCCUR WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING.
RESIDENTS ALONG AREA WATERWAYS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT AND WATCH WATER LEVELS TO DECIDE IF ANY ACTION IS REQUIRED. PLEASE REPORT ANY FLOODING ASSOCIATED WITH ICE JAMS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS AND FORECASTS AS THIS FLOOD POTENTIAL DEVELOPS.