Rain, rain go away

In Benona Township, 56th Avenue between Stone Road and Marshville Dam Road is closed due to a huge washout.

The parking lot at the New Era Wesco flooded Saturday night. Photo courtesy of Cam Hoffman.

By Allison Scarbrough. OCP Editor.

OCEANA COUNTY — Heavy downpours Saturday night, June 13, caused flooding and washouts of area roads, and more rain with possible severe weather is predicted for Sunday and most of this week.

In Benona Township, 56th Avenue between Stone Road and Marshville Dam Road is closed due to a huge washout. The washout

The Wesco parking lot in New Era. Photo courtesy of Cam Hoffman.

gushed into Dorrance Creek, which feeds into Stony Creek. The parking lot at the Wesco store in New Era flooded last night due to the torrential rains. Several other road washouts occurred in the area after the downpours. Dolphie Eisenlohr reported on our Facebook page receiving 5.5 inches of rain in Northern Ferry Township. A New Era area resident reported receiving 3.5 inches of rain in two hours during the downpour.

The U.S. National Weather Service in Grand Rapids issued a hazardous weather outlook Sunday afternoon that includes Oceana

A washout on Pike Road near New Era.

County. Thunderstorms are possible this afternoon and evening and will be capable of producing hail up to one inch in diameter with wind gusts up to 60 mph, according to NWS. The main threat is in the southwest corner of the state, however.

The threat of flooding continues due to the heavy rains “as we remain in a wet pattern,”
NWS states. Another round of showers and storms is expected Monday afternoon and evening with the potential for large hail, damaging winds, heavy rain and flooding. More showers and storms are in the forecast for Wednesday and Thursday.

A washout on 56th Avenue between Stone Road and Marshville Dam Road in Benona Township.